Friday, December 30, 2016

In Baba's Words: Feeding Others is Feeding Me - Baba's All Pervasiveness

An excerpt from chapter 42 of the Sri Sai Satcharita:

Once, in the evening, while Baba was sitting in the Masjid (Moque where Baba stayed) with his devotee Tatya, another one of his intimate devotees, Lakshmibai, came and saluted Him.

Baba said to her - "Oh Lakshmi, I am very hungry."

She replied - "Baba, wait a bit, I will return immediately with bread."

Shortly after, she returned with bread and vegetables and placed them before Baba. He took it and gave it to a dog.

Lakshmibai then asked - "What is this, Baba, I ran in haste, prepared bread with my own hands for You, and You threw it to a dog without eating a morsel of it; You gave me trouble unnecessarily."

Baba replied - "Why do you grieve for nothing? The appeasement of the dog's hunger is the same as Mine. The dog has got a soul; the creatures may be different, but the hunger of all is the same, though some speak and others are dumb. Know for certain, that he who feeds the hungry, really serves Me with food. Regard this as an exiomatic Truth."

This is a ordinary incident but Baba thereby propounded a great spiritual truth and showed its practical application in daily life without hurting anybody's feelings. From this time onward, Lakshmibai began to offer Him daily bread and milk with love and devotion. Baba accepted and ate it appreciatively. He took part of the food and sent the remainder with Lakshmibai to another devotee, Radha-Krishna-Mai, who always relished Baba's prasad (consecrated food).

This bread-story should not be considered as a digression; it shows, how Shirdi Sai Baba pervaded all the creatures and transcended them. He is omnipresent, birthless, deathless and immortal."



"Giving food to the hungry gives the best of all merits."



Thursday, December 29, 2016

The Extended Miracle Practice Given By Baba to Fulfill Your Desires - Start on Thursday

Want to experience miracles from Babaji? There is a 9-week miracle-practice ('vrat') that was given by Sai Baba to take care of all the problems in your life through miracles. It is important to note it is NOT required to receive miracles from this most compassionate saint, however, many people have received miracles from doing this simple 'vrat'.

Instructions can be found on this page under the heading 'Extended Miracle Practice': http://manifestmiracleswithshirdisaibaba.blogspot.com/p/miracle-practice.html

Below is the 'Sai Vrat' story, which illustrates how Babaji first gave it to a devotee, and how it gives miracles:

"A woman named Kokila lived in a city with her husband Maheshbhai. Both of them had love for each other. But Maheshbhai’s nature was quarrelsome. He did not have sense of speaking. Neighbours were fed of Maheshbhai’s such nature, but Kokila was religious woman. She had immense faith in God and she suffered everything without uttering a single word. Gradually her husband’s business declined and the earnings were also negligible. Now Maheshbhai did not go anywhere and stayed back at home. Moreover he was drawn to wrong path. Now his quarrelsome nature increased two fold.

It was afternoon time. An old man came and stood in front of the house of Kokila. He had a strange glow on his face. He demanded dal-chaval (lentil-rice). Kokila gave to the old man what he demanded and folded her hands before him. The old man said May Sai bless you with happiness. Kokila said there is no happiness in my fate and narrated everything about her unhappy life to the old man.

The old man explained the Vrat for 9 Thursdays. The vrat can be done by eating fruits or by taking lunch or dinner. If possible go to Sai Temple or otherwise worship Sai Baba at home for 9 Thursdays, observe fast and donate food to the hungry people and distribute 5, 11 and 21 Sai Vrat Books according to your economic condition. If you increase the importance of this Sai Vrat, Sai Baba will fulfill all your desires. But you should have deep faith in Sai Baba and have patience in your mind. If anybody does this Vrat and duly performs its concluding ceremony, Sai Baba fulfills his/her desires.

Kokila did the Vrat for 9 Thursdays, distributed Sai Vrat books and fed the poor on 9th Thursday. Now all the quarrels in her home had disappeared. There was complete happiness as Maheshbhai’s nature had changed. His business now came back on track. In a short period, their economic condition also improved and everything became fine. Both husband and wife started living their life happily. One day Kokila’s brother-in-law and his wife came to their home from Surat. Casually talking they told Kokila that their children do not study well. They have failed in exams. Kokila told them about the importance of Sai Baba Vrat for 9 Thursdays and said that by worshipping by Sai Baba their children would be able to study well. But for that you should have deep faith in Sai Baba. Sai Baba helps everybody. She explained the procedure for the vrat which is as follows:

- This vrat can be done by eating fruits or by taking lunch or dinner.
- If possible go to Sai Baba temple for all 9 Thursdays.
- Any woman, man or child can do this vrat. Worship of Sai Baba photograph should be done for 9 Thursday.
- Offer flowers, light incense sticks and lamp, chant Arti and remember Sai Baba’s name and distribute prasad.
- On 9th Thursday feed poor people.
- On 9th Thursday distribute Sai Baba Vrat Books among family members and friends.

After few days Kokila received a letter from her brother-in-law’s wife that her children does Sai Vrat and have started studying hard. She herself did Sai Baba Vrat and distributed the books in her husband’s office. She added that due to Sai Baba Vrat her friend’s daughter’s marriage was fixed in a very nice family. Moreover her neighbour’s ornament box was lost somewhere. As a result of Sai Baba Vrat someone came and returned the box after two months. In this way such miracles happened.

Now Kokila came to know that Sai Baba is really very great.

O Sai Baba please shower Your blessings on us as You have showered on others."

Here again is the link to the page where you can get more information (Scroll down to heading 'Extended Miracle Practice - 9 Thursdays)http://manifestmiracleswithshirdisaibaba.blogspot.com/p/miracle-practice.html


My Business is to Give Blessings


Wednesday, December 28, 2016

How Baba Miraculously Cures Boy's Epilepsy - His Advice on How to Secure God's Protection

An excerpt from chapter 26 of the Sri Sai Satcharita:

"There was a gentleman by name Harishchandra Pital in Bombay. He had a son, who suffered from epilepsy. He tried many allopathic and ayurvedic doctors, but there was no cure. There remained only one way of remedy, viz. resorting to the saints. It has been stated in Chapter XV that Das Ganu by his inimitable and splendid kirtans (songs of the Lord) spread the fame of Sai Baba in the Bombay area. Mr. Pitale heard some of these kirtans in 1910 and learnt therefrom and from others that Baba, by His touch and mere glance, cured many incurable diseases. Then a desire arose in his mind to see Sai Baba.

Making all preparations and taking presents and fruit-baskets, Mr. Pitale came to Shirdi with his family, wife and children. He then went to the Masjid (Mosque where Baba lived) with them, prostrated before Baba and placed his sick son on Baba's Feet. No sooner Baba saw the child than an untoward thing happened.

The son immediately revolved his eyes and fell down senseless. His mouth began to foam and his whole body began to perspire profusely and it seemed as if he breathed himself out. Seeing this, the parents became very nervous and excited. The boy used to get such fits very often, but this fit seemed to persist long. Tears began to flow ceaselessly from the mother's eyes and she began to wail, crying that her condition was like that of a person, who being afraid of the robbers ran into a house which collapsed on him,or like a cow fearing a tiger, ran into the hands of a butcher, or like a traveler, who being tormented by the heat of the sun went to take refuge under a tree, which fell upon him, or like a devout person going for worship into a temple which collapsed upon him. Then Baba comforted her saying - "Do not wail like this, wait a bit, have patience, take the boy to your lodging, he will come to his senses within half an hour."

They did as directed by Baba and found that His words came true. As soon as he was taken into the Wada (traditional Indian mansion), the boy recovered and all the Pitale family, husband, wife and others were very delighted and all their doubts disappeared. Then Mr. Pitale came with his wife to see Baba and prostrated himself before Him very humbly and respectfully and sat shampooing His legs and mentally thanking Baba for His help. Baba then smilingly said - "Are not all your thoughts, doubts and apprehensions calmed down now? God will protect him, who has got faith and patience".



Even after I cast off this body, I shall ever come running to the help of My devotees.


Sunday, December 25, 2016

In Baba's Words - Baba's 'Special Characteristic' - Worldly Honors - How to Create a Peaceful and Carefree Mnd

An quote from Babaji in chapter 6 of the Sri Sai Satcharita

"There will never be any dearth or scarcity, regarding food and clothes, in any devotees’ homes. It is my special characteristic, that I always look to, and provide, for the welfare of those devotees, who worship Me whole-heartedly with their minds ever fixed on Me. Lord Krishna has also said the same in the Gita. Therefore, strive not much for food and clothes.

If you want anything, beg of the Lord, leave worldly honors, try to get Lord’s grace and blessings, and be honored in His Court. Do not be deluded by worldly honor. The form of the Deity (Babaji) should be firmly fixed in the mind. Let all the senses and mind be ever devoted to the worship of the Lord, let there be no attraction for any other thing; fix the mind in remembering Me always, so that it will not wander elsewhere, towards body, wealth and home. Then it will be calm, peaceful and carefree. This is the sign of the mind, being well engaged in good company. If the mind is vagrant (unsettled), it cannot be called well-merged."


"My eye is ever on those who love me."



Saturday, December 24, 2016

A 'Simple' Miracle Practice to Benefit from - Try This for 1 Week

Below is a simple miracle practice you can experiment with for at least 1 week. The goal - make first contact...you want to receive a sign of faith from Babaji so you know he is real. He will DEFINITELY give you sign(s) if you are sincere.


Simple Daily Miracle Practice: Experiment for 1 Week:

1. Look at the picture below for at least 60 seconds each day. 

Burn it into your mind. While looking at it, affirm "Baba is taking care of all my needs, I don't have to worry. Baba is taking care of all my needs, I don't have to worry." Keep saying it and remember it all throughout the day - it is your affirmation especially to offset any negative thinking or doubts. Keep his image in your mind all day - this is like holding the door open for him to interfere in your life. You can print it and keep it on you (he says if you do this it will ward of problems), put it on your phone, computer, or frame it near your work station. His form is a portal to miracles. Let him worry about your problems, you worry about remembering him and trusting him fully, that's all you need to do.




2. Say 'Sai' (Pronounced Sah - Eye.)

Just say it over and over as you remember the image throughout the day (Read 'If you Always Say Sai' for more). Let it stoke the fire of love for him. The love removes the barrier (ego) which block miracles (Read 'Miracles Are Just the Beginning' for more).

3. Read at least one chapter of Sri Sai Satcharita each day.

These are stories which connect you to him, and have been responsible for many miracles in the lives of those who read, just by reading them. (Read 'Reward of reading Sri Sai Satcharita , 'The Easiest Path' and 'If a Person Reads My Stories' for more) They were inspired directly from Baba himself. Close your eyes, and ask him to guide you to which chapter you should read. Read at least one chapter per day. http://manifestmiracleswithshirdisaibaba.blogspot.com/p/sri-sai-satcharita.html

*Note: there are apps available that you can put on your phone. I love this, and the first thing I do when I wake up, and just before I go to bed, is grab my phone and read a chapter. Its also great if you are out and about and have some downtime.

4. Feed the Hungry

This is a miracle practice, and perhaps the best one. Baba LOVES when you feed hungry people and animals. In the Sri Sai Satcharita it says feeding the hungry is the best charity (Read 'Why Baba Loves When You Feed People' for more info), and gives the best merits. So, in any way you can make sure to donate food or money to feed the hungry. Don't miss an opportunity to help someone, as it could be Baba himself (he is known to come to people in different forms to test them). A charity organization I work with called Tripura Foundation is able to feed 5 meals to the hungry for every $1 donated (IE you can feed 50 meals for just $10). Click here to make a donation.

ALWAYS REMEMBER...

"If you look to me, I look to you...if you take one step towards me, I'll take 100 to you."





Thursday, December 15, 2016

How to Attain the 4 Goals of Life without Having to Ask for Them

An excerpt from Chapter 6 of the Sri Sai Satcharita

"If any one prostrates before Sai and surrenders heart and soul to Him, then [without having to ask for it], all the chief objects of life:

+ Righteousness/Perfect Action (Dharma)
+ Wealth (Artha)
+ Fulfillment of Desires (Kama)
+ And Liberation/Enlightenment (Moksha), are easily attained.

...So says definitely, Sai Baba."

Baba on merging with him/his grace, in his own words:

"There will never be any dearth or scarcity, regarding food and clothes, in any devotees’ homes. It is my special characteristic, that I always look to, and provide, for the welfare of those devotees, who worship Me whole-heartedly with their minds ever fixed on Me. Lord Krishna has also said the same in the Gita. Therefore, strive not much for food and clothes. If you want anything, beg of the Lord to leave worldly honors, for his grace and blessings to be honored in His Court.

Do not be deluded by worldly honor. The form of the Deity should be firmly fixed in the mind. Let all the senses and mind be ever devoted to the worship of the Lord, let there be no attraction for any other thing; fix the mind in remembering Me always, so that it will not wander elsewhere, towards body, wealth and home. Then it will be calm, peaceful and carefree. This is the sign of the mind, being well engaged in good company. If the mind is unsettled, it cannot be called well-merged."


"I you take one step towards me, I will take 100 steps towards you."







Wednesday, December 14, 2016

You Can Depend on Baba - He is Utterly Unfailing - He Will Spoil You with Miracles

I want to shout it from the mountain tops, I want everyone to know...

You can depend on Baba.

I have been vigilantly surrendering to him - constantly asking him what I should do, where I should go, what I should eat - everything. I have been making him my helmsman.

My experience?

He is utterly UNFAILING.

He is anticipating everything. He puts me in the right place, at the right time, and creates these unimaginable fortunate circumstances that leaves me speechless. This is happening everyday. 

When I'm struggling, he gives me patience.

When I falter, he redirects me.

When I'm worried, he gives me faith through some miracle.

When I ask him a question, he gives me the answer.

He is like a warm blanket, a safety net, a mother to a new born baby...

But so much more.

I've never felt so comforted, assured, protected, and FULL with Baba.

Words cannot begin to articulate the sense of peace and comfort that he is looking out for me EVERY SECOND. He simply will not you suffer needlessly. He will not let you be hurt, foolish, or deluded. Its absolutely incredible, this merciful mother Babaji.

He knows what I want before I do, and he makes it happen effortlessly. 

I just can't say enough - I could go on and on.

What I deeply, deeply desire is for YOU to experience Baba's grace for yourself. He is so merciful, nurturing, and compassionate. He is the great child-spoiler. 

If you are reading this, this is my attempt to convince you - GO TO BABA. All you have to do is think about him all the time, and allow him to work. The more you can give up what you think you ought to do, say, and be, the more you will see he will do it all for you, and in unimaginable ways. Utter perfection.

Surrender to him, and you don't ever have to worry about anything, ever again. You can rest assured he is taking care of your every need, and will put you in the right circumstances WITHOUT FAIL. He will be with you wherever you go, he will go ahead of you and organize everything in your favor. He will keep negative things away from you, and shower you with  miracle after miracle. You just have to let him.

Knock down the wall between you and him, let go, and you will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams. He is the fast track, the shortcut to you highest success.

In the name of Baba


"Make Me Your Slave."



Tuesday, December 13, 2016

In Baba's Words - Just Remember the Guru's Loving Glance - No Other Practice Required - You Will Attain Spiritual Goal in Life

An Excerpt from Chapters 18 & 19 of the Sri Sai Satcharita

"The (mother) tortoise is on one bank of the river, and her young ones are on the other side. She gives neither milk, nor warmth to them. Her mere glance gives them nutrition. The young ones do nothing, but remember (meditate upon) their mother. The tortoise glance is, to the young ones, a down-pour of nectar, the only source of sustenance and happiness. Similar is the relation, between the Guru and disciples...

Just remember that Guru's tortoise-like loving glance gives us happiness. Do not try to get Mantra or Upadesh from anybody. Make Me the sole object of your thoughts and actions; and you will, no doubt, attain Paramartha (the spiritual goal of life).

Look at Me whole-heartedly, and I in turn look at you similarly. I speak the truth, nothing but the truth. No Sadhanas, nor proficiency in the six Shastras, are necessary. Have faith and confidence in your Guru. Believe fully, that Guru is the sole Actor or Doer. Blessed is he who knows the greatness of his Guru and thinks him to be the Trinity incarnate."

"It is on account of Rinaubandh (former relationship) that we have come together - let us love and serve each other and be happy."





Monday, December 12, 2016

"You Are God..."

An excerpt from chapter 39 of the Sri Sai Satcharita

 "To the disciple, held spell-bound for endless generations by the ideas of his being a creature, humble and poor, the Guru imparts in hundreds of births the teaching - "You are God, you are mighty and opulent." Then, he realizes he is really God. The perpetual delusion under which the disciple is laboring, that he is the body, that he is a creature (jiva) or ego, that God (Paramatma) and the world are different from him, is an error inherited from innumerable past births."


"If we see all actions as God’s doing, we will be unattached and free from karmic bondage."


Saturday, December 10, 2016

Feeding Hungry People Gives Miracles - Best of All Charities - Why Baba Loves When You Feed People

An Excerpt from Chapter 38 of the Sri Sai Satcharita

"Different spiritual practices  are prescribed in our scriptures for different ages. Penance  is recommended for Golden age, knowledge/wisdom  for Silver age, Sacrifice for Bronze age and Charity for Dark (present) age.

Of all the charities, giving food is the best one. We are much perturbed when we get no food at noon. Other beings feel similarly under similar circumstances. Knowing this, he who gives food to the poor and hungry, is the best donor or charitable person.

The Taittiriya Upanishad says that "Food is Brahma; from food all the creatures are born and having been born, by food they live, and having departed, into food again they enter."

Other kinds of charities are imperfect without this giving of food as stars are without the moon, a necklace without its central medal, a crown without pinnacle, a tank without a lotus, bhajan without love, a married lady without the kumkum-mark, singing without a sweet voice or butter-milk without salt.

Giving food to the hungry is the best of all merits."


Bring Miracles into Your Life



"Give food to the hungry, water to the thirsty, and clothes to the naked. Then God will be pleased."


Friday, December 9, 2016

In Baba's Words - "Nothing Will Harm Him Who Turns His Attention Towards Me..." - Who or What is Shirdi Sai Baba?

An Excerpt from Chapter 3 of the Sri Sai Satcharita

"Be wherever you like, do whatever you choose, remember this well that all what you do is known to Me. I am the Inner Ruler of all and seated in their hearts. I envelope all the creatures, the movable and immovable world. I am the Controller - the wire-puller of the show of this Universe. I am the mother - origin of all beings - the Harmony of three Gunas, the propeller of all senses, the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. Nothing will harm him, who turns his attention towards Me, but Maya will lash or whip him who forgets Me. All the insects, ants, the visible, movable and immovable world, is My Body or Form."




If you make me the sole object of your thoughts and aims, you will gain the supreme goal.


In Baba's Words - "If A Man Utters My Name with Love and Hears My Stories..."

"If a man utters My name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes, increase his devotion. And if he sings earnestly My life and My deeds, him I shall beset in front and back and on all sides. Those devotees, who are attached to Me, heart and soul, will naturally feel happiness, when they hear these stories. Believe Me that if anybody sings My Leelas, I will give him infinite joy and everlasting contentment. It is My special characteristic to free any person, who surrenders completely to Me, and who does worship Me faithfully, and who remembers Me, and meditates on Me constantly.

How can they be conscious of worldly objects and sensations, who utter My name, who worship Me, who think of My stories and My life and who thus always remember Me? I shall draw out My devotees from the jaws of Death. If My stories are listened to, all the diseases will be got rid of. So, hear My stories with respect; and think and meditate on them, assimilate them. This is the way of happiness and contentment. The pride and egoism of My devotees will vanish, the mind of the hearers will be set at rest; and if it has wholehearted and complete faith, it will be one with Supreme Consciousness. The simple remembrance of My name as ‘Sai, Sai’ will do away with sins of speech and hearing".




Easiest Spiritual Practice - A Little Exertion Brings Great Rewards - Baba Gets Rid of Birth and Death

An Excerpt from Chapter 10 of Sri Sai Satcharita

"Remember Him (Sai Baba) always with love, for He was engrossed in doing good to all, and always abided in His Self. To remember Him only is to solve the riddle of life and death. This is the best and easiest of Sadhanas (Spiritual Practices), as it involves no expenditure. A little exertion here brings great rewards. So as long as our senses are sound, we should, minute my minute, practice this Sadhana. All other Gods are illusory ; Guru is the only God. If we believe in Sad-guru's holy feet, he can change our fortune for the better. If we serve Him nicely, we get rid of our Samsar (Cycle of Birth and Death).

We need not study any philosophy like the Nyaya and the Mimansa. If we make Him our Helmsman, we can easily cross over the sea of all our pains and sorrows. As we trust the helmsman in crossing rivers and seas, so we have to trust our Sadguru in getting over the ocean of worldly existence. The Sadguru looks to the intense feeling and devotion of his devotees, endows them with knowledge and eternal bliss...

Entire and unbroken was His love for the devotees. He was the mine or store-house for self-knowledge and full of Divine Bliss. Such was the Divine Form of Sai Baba, boundless, endless and undifferentiated. One principle which envelopes the whole universe, (from a stone pillar to Brahma) incarnated in Sai Baba."



Why fear when I am here?


Thursday, December 8, 2016

The Coming 'Sai Yuga' - A Time of Selfless, Sacred Love - Merger of All Religions and Philosophies

An excerpt from Chapter 16 of the Sri Sai Satcharita:

Saiyuga

"Shirdi Sai Baba was the human incarnation of Lord Shiva of Kailash. For the good of the world, he stopped the poison in his throat and suffered for the sake of others. Repeating the name of such a Sai make us happy. Worship of Sai is auspicious. Devotees experienced complete bliss when they were in the company of Sai Baba frequently said, "Allah Malik". Sai, without aspiring for moksha or complete merger of God, has remained in the service of all living beings considered by him as facets of God. Sai means love, selfless love, sacred love. Sai’s love was not only to mankind but all living things. People in the name of wealth, caste religion, nationality, regions and political parties swindle and become millionaires. If necessary they are prepared to kill some. In the present society, we find a lot of such persons who call themselves leaders and servants of people. To curb this, we should publicise Sai philosophy on a large scale, spreading brotherly love in society. All should have peace and happiness permanently. This is shall be the aim of Sai philosophy in all nooks and corners of our towns and villages of the country. Sai Yuga is going to set in. All castes, all religions and all philosophies will merge into one and the philosophy of ‘One family’ will be established and we be lucky to be a part of this movement. Let us pray to Sai Baba to form an army of dedicated devotees (Sai Army) and establish a Sai empire."

"Om Shanti! Shanti! Shantihi"


"I look on all with an equal eye."


The Easiest Path & Hearing Baba's Stories

Excerpts from Chapter 10 of the Sri Sai Satcharita:

"Remember Him (Sai Baba) always with love, for He was engrossed in doing good to all, and always abided in His Self. To remember Him only is to solve the riddle of life and death. This is the best and easiest of Sadhanas, as it involves no expenditure. A little exertion here brings great rewards. So as long as our senses are sound, we should, minute my minute, practice this Sadhana. All other Gods are illusory ; Guru is the only God. If we believe in Sad-guru's holy feet, he can change our fortune for the better. If we serve Him nicely, we get rid of our Samsar. We need not study any philosophy like the Nyaya and the Mimansa. If we make Him our Helmsman, we can easily cross over the sea of all our pains and sorrows. As we trust the helmsman in crossing rivers and seas, so we have to trust our Sadguru in getting over the ocean of worldly existence. The Sadguru looks to the intense feeling and devotion of his devotees, endows them with knowledge and eternal bliss....


...Though Sai Baba acted outwardly like an ordinary man, His actions showed extraordinary intelligence and skill. Whatever He did, was done for the good of His devotees. He never prescribed any asan, regulation of breathing or any rites to His Bhaktas, nor did He blow any mantra into their ears. He told them to leave off all cleverness and always remember "Sai" "Sai". "If you did that" He said, "all your shackles would be removed and you would be free". Sitting between five fires, sacrifices, chantings, eight-fold Yoga are possible for the Brahmins only. They are of no use to the other classes. The function of the mind is to think, it cannot remain for a minute without thinking. If you give it a Sense-object, it will think about it. If you give it to a Guru, it will think about Guru. You have heard most attentively the greatness, grandeur of Sai. This is the natural remembrance, worship and Kirtan of Sai. Hearing the stories of the Saints is not so difficult, as the other Sadhanas mentioned above. They (stories) remove all fear of this Samsar (worldly existence), and take you on to the spiritual path.

So listen to these stories, meditate on them, and assimilate them. If this is done, not only the Brahmins, but women and lower clases will get pure and holy. You may do or attend to your worldy duties, but give your mind to Sai and His stories, and then, He is sure to bless you. This is the easiest path, but why do not all take to it? The reason is that without God's grace, we do not get the desire to listen to the stories of Saints. With God's grace everything is smooth and easy. Hearing the stories of the Saints is, in a way, keeping their company. The importance of the company of Saints is very great. It removes our body-consciousness and egoism, destroys completely the chain of our birth and death, cuts asunder all the knots of the heart, and takes us to God, Who is pure Consciousness. It certainly increases our non-attachment to sense-objects, and makes us quite indifferent to pleasures and pains, and leads us on the spiritual path. If you have no other Sadhana, such as uttering God's name, worship or devotion etc., but if you take refuge in them (Saints) whole-heartedly, they will carry you off safety across the ocean of wordly existence. It is for this reason that the Saint manifest themselves in this world. even sacred rivers such as the Ganges, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri etc., which wash away the sins of the world, desire that the Saints should come to them, for a bath and purify them. Such is the grandeur of the Saints. It is on account of the store of merit in past births that we have attained the feet of Sai Baba.

We conclude this chapter with meditation on Sai's Form. He, the beautiful and handsome Sai, standing on the edge of the Masjid and distributing Udi to each and every Bhakta, with a view to his welfare. He who thinks the world as naught and Who is ever engrossed in Supreme Bliss -- before Him -- we humbly prostrate ourselves."




"Trust in the Guru fully. That is the only sadhana."




Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Beautiful (Arati) Prayer to Babaji in English

Excerpted from the 'Arati' Chapter in the Sri Sai Satcharita

Oh Sai Baba, we wave lights before You, the bestower of happiness to the Jivas. Give us - Your servants and devotees rest under the dust of Your feet. Burning (destroying) desire, You remain absorbed in Your Self and show the Lord (God) to the aspirants. As one feels intently, You give him experiences or realizations accordingly. Oh kind-hearted, Your power is such! Meditation on Your name removes our fear of the samsar. Your method of work is really unfathomable as You always help the poor and helpless. 

In this Kali age, You - the all-pervasive Datta, have really incarnated as Saguna Brahma. Ward off the fear of samsar of the devotees who come to You every Thursday so as to enable them to see the feet of the Lord. Oh! God of Gods, I pray that let my treasure be the service of Your feet. Feed Madhav and (you should utter your name here) with happiness as the cloud feeds the Chatak bird with pure water and thus keep up Your Word. Amen!



"I will take you to the end."



Reward of Reading the Sri Sai Satcharita

An excerpt from the Epilogue of the Sri Sai Satcharita 

"Now a few words about the reward you get, from a study of this work. After bathing in the sacred Godavari and after taking the darshan of the Samadhi in the Samadhi-mandir in Shirdi, you should read or hear the Satcharita. If you do this all your threefold afflictions will vanish. Casually thinking about the stories of Sai, you will get unconsciously interested in spiritual life and if you then go on through the work with love, all your sins will be destroyed. If you wish to get rid of the cycle of births and deaths, read Sai's stories and remember Him always; and get yourself attached (devoted) to His Feet. If you dive into the sea of Sai's stories, and then give them out to others, you will get an ever-new flavour of them and save the hearers from perdition. 

If you go on meditating on Sai's Form, it will in course of time disappear and lead you into self-realization. It is very hard to know or realize the nature of Self or Brahma, but if you approach through the Sagun Brahma (Sai's Form) your progress will be easy. If the devotee completely surrenders himself to Him, he will lose his individuality and be merged in Him and be one with Him, as the river in the sea. If you thus become merged with Him in any of the three states, viz., waking, dream and sleep, you get rid of the bond of samsara. If anybody after bathing reads this with love and faith,and completes it within a week, his calamities will disappear; or if he hears or reads it daily and regularly all his dangers will be warded off. By its study, a man wishing for wealth will get it and a pure trader, success in his life. He will get the reward according to his faith and devotion. Without these, there will be no experience of any kind. 

If you read this respectfully, Sai will be pleased, and removing you ignorance and poverty, He will give you knowledge, wealth and prosperity. With concentrated mind, if you read a Chapter daily, it will give you unbounded happiness. One who has his welfare at heart, should study it carefully and then he will ever remember Sai gratefully and joyfully in birth after birth. This work should be read at home specially on Guru-Pournima (Ashadha full-moon day), Gokul-Ashtami, Rama-Navami and Dasara (Baba's anniversary day). If you study this one book carefully, all your desires will be satisfied and if you always remember Sai's Feet in your heart, you will easily cross the Bhava (Samsar) sagar. By its study, the diseased and sick will get health, the poor wealth, the mean and afflicted prosperity, and the mind will get rid of all ideas and get steadiness."

"I am the slave of my devotee."




Miracles Are Just the Beginning with Baba...

The first thing that comes to mind when you think of Shirdi Sai Baba is miracles.

"My business is to give blessings."

He is the personification of mercy.

He asks for faith and patience.

He also asks for devotion.

"I love devotion."


"If a devotee is about to fall, I stretch out my hands to support him or her."
"I think of my people day and night. I say their names over and over."


"There shall be no want in the house of my devotee."

Why, you may wonder, would someone who has it all want your devotion?

Devotion is love, and love is the force that dissolves the ego. The ego is the wall between us and Baba. Once that wall is knocked down, then a clear channel is established between yourself and Baba, who is your highest self. Once this happens, you're finished.

Then there is an effortless flow of his blessings, guidance, and protection ever pouring onto you. Miracles can happen instantaneously. Fear and worry will vanish. Peace, bliss, and the highest consciousness will dawn within you.

Union with Baba is union with your divine self:

" I am the Controller - the wire-puller of the show of this Universe. I am the mother - origin of all beings - the Harmony of three Gunas (3 innate qualities), the propeller of all senses, the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. Nothing will harm him, who turns his attention towards Me, but Maya will lash or whip him who forgets Me. All the insects, ants, the visible, movable and immovable world, is My Body or Form". (Chapter 3 Sri Sai Satcharita)

Babaji's teaching is devotion, that is what he wants from us, and it is not for him, but for our highest benefit. Keep thinking of him, saying his name (Sai, Sai, Sai), and feeling love for him. Surrender. 

"If you take a step towards me, I will take 100 steps towards you."

His blessings and mercy are abundantly available, we just have to keep making the effort and he takes care of the rest.

In the name of Sai.

"If you reach out to me, I will reach out to you."




Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Babaji Finds Me Keys (Small Miracle)

I had lost my keys and was praying to Baba to direct me to them.

I was searching in my laundry room, and accidentally knocked of my dogs leash from it's hook.

This prompted me to look at my dog, who then met eyes with me and looked upwards at my dryer (stacked on top of washer).

I opened the door where there were clothes I had yet to unload and put away. I reached out and grabbed the first article of clothing in front of me, a pair of jeans. Sure enough, in the pocket of those genes were my keys.

I laughed!

Babaji does small miracles like this for me everyday.

Faith and Patience, trust in him fully.

Om Sai!


PS: Do you have a miracle story to share? Please leave a comment on the blog, or in the Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/shirdisaibabamiracles/) and I will feature on the blog.

If you Always Say 'Sai, Sai, Sai'...


"Those who are fortunate and whose demerits have vanished; take to My worship. If you always say 'Sai, Sai' I shall take you over the seven seas; believe in these words, and you will be certainly benefited. I do not need any paraphernalia of worship - either eight-fold or sixteen-fold. I rest there where there is full devotion...


"If a man utters My name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes, increase his devotion. And if he sings earnestly My life and My deeds, him I shall beset in front and back and on all sides. Those devotees, who are attached to Me, heart and soul, will naturally feel happiness, when they hear these stories. Believe Me that if anybody sings My Leelas, I will give him infinite joy and everlasting contentment. It is My special characteristic to free any person, who surrenders completely to Me, and who does worship Me faithfully, and who remembers Me, and meditates on Me constantly.

How can they be conscious of worldly objects and sensations, who utter My name, who worship Me, who think of My stories and My life and who thus always remember Me? I shall draw out My devotees from the jaws of Death. If My stories are listened to, all the diseases will be got rid of. So, hear My stories with respect; and think and meditate on them, assimilate them. This is the way of happiness and contentment. The pride and egoism of My devotees will vanish, the mind of the hearers will be set at rest; and if it has wholehearted and complete faith, it will be one with Supreme Consciousness. The simple remembrance of My name as ‘Sai, Sai’ will do away with sins of speech and hearing".







Monday, December 5, 2016

Sri Sai Satcharita Miracle

A comment from one of our readers left in the Facebook group:

"I followed the link to [Sri Sai Stacharita] and did Dr. Pillai's Midbrain tapping technique before clicking on the chapter I was drawn to, Chapters XVII & XIX. Faith & Patience."

Dr. Pillai's Midbrain Tapping Method:



Thanks for sharing Chandra Sullivan!


Blissful Shirdi Sai Baba Miracle Sounds


Enjoy!




Blissful Vision of Sai in Dream

In an in between state in the early hours of the morning, my favorite image of Babaji came to life. I could effortlessly see him in my mind as if he were there in front of me in 3-D. I woke up this morning feeling immense peace, bliss, and with one of his mantras gently repeating in my mind, fueling the bliss. Needless to say, I didn't want to rise!

Interesting side note - chapter 11 in the Sri Sai Satcharita says if you read the chapter daily (as I have been called to) you will soon have God vision.

The image:


Sunday, December 4, 2016

Sri Sai Satcharita Chapter 1

Sai Satcharitra - Chapter I


Salutations -- The Story of Grinding Wheat and Its Philosophical Significance.

According to the ancient and revered custom, Hemadpant begins the work, Sai Satcharitra, with various salutations.

First, he makes obeisance to the God Ganesha to remove all obstacles and make the work a success and says that Shri Sai is the God Ganesha.

Then, to the Goddess Saraswati to inspire him to write out the work and says that Shri Sai is one with this Goddess and that He is Himself singing His own life.

Then, to the Gods; Brahma, Vishnu and Shankar - the Creating, Preserving and Destroying Deities respectively; and says that Sainath is one with them and He as the great Teacher, will carry us across the River of Worldly Existence.

Then, to his tutelary Deity Narayan Adinath who manifested himself in Konkan - the land reclaimed by Parashurama, (Rama in the Hindi version) from the sea; and to the Adi (Original) Purusha of the family.
Then, to the Bharadwaja Muni, into whose gotra (clan) he was born and also to various Rishis, Yagyavalakya, Bhrigu, Parashara, Narad, Vedavyasa, Sanak, Sanandan, Sanatkumar, Shuka. Shounak, Vishwamitra, Vasistha, Valmiki, Vamadeva, Jaimini, Vaishampayan, Nava Yogindra etc, and also modern Saints such as Nivritti, Jnanadev, Sopan, Muktabai, Janardan, Ekanath, Namdev, Tukaram, Kanha, and Narahari etc.

Then, to his grandfather Sadashiv, father Raghunath, his mother, who left him in his infancy, to his paternal aunt, who brought him up, and to his loving elder brother.

Then, to the readers and prays them to give their whole and undivided attention to his work. And lastly, to his Guru Shri Sainath - an Incarnation of Shri Dattatreya, Who is his sole Refuge and Who will make him realize that Brahman is the Reality and the world an illusion; and incidentally, to all the Beings in whom the Lord God dwells.

After describing in brief the various modes of devotion according to Parashara, Vyasa and Shandilya etc., the author goes on to relate the following story:

"It was sometime after 1910 A.D. that I went, one fine morning, to the Masjid in Shirdi for getting a darshan of Sai Baba. I was wonder-struck to see the following phenomenon. After washing His mouth and face, Sai Baba began to make preparations for grinding wheat. He spread a sack on the floor; and thereon set a hand-mill. He took some quantity of wheat in a winnowing fan, and then drawing up the sleeves of His Kafni (robe); and taking hold of the peg of the hand-mill, started grinding the wheat by putting a few handfuls of wheat in the upper opening of the mill and rotated it. I thought ‘what business Baba had with the grinding of wheat, when He possessed nothing and stored nothing, and as He lived on alms!’ Some people who had come there thought likewise, but none had the courage to ask baba what He was doing. Immediately, this news of Baba's grinding wheat spread into the village, and at once men and women ran to the Masjid and flocked there to see Baba's act. Four bold women, from the crowd, forced their way up and pushing Baba aside, took forcibly the peg or handle into their hands, and, singing Baba's Leelas, started grinding. At first Baba was enraged, but on seeing the women's love and devotion, He was much pleased and began to smile. While they were grinding, they began to think that Baba had no house, no property, no children, none to look after, and He lived on alms, He did not require any wheat-flour for making bread or roti, what will He do with this big quantity of flour? Perhaps as Baba is very kind, He will distribute the flour amongst us. Thinking in this way while singing, they finished the grinding and after putting the hand-mill aside, they divided the flour into four portions and began to remove them one per head. Baba, Who was calm and quiet up till now, got wild and started abusing them saying, "Ladies, are you gone mad? Whose father's property are you looting away? Have I borrowed any wheat from you, so that you can safely take the flour? Now please do this. Take the flour and throw it on the village border limits." On hearing this, the women felt abashed and whispering amongst them, went away to the outskirts of the village and spread the flour as directed by Baba.

I asked the Shirdi people - "What was this that Baba did?" They replied that as the Cholera Epidemic was spreading in the village and this was Baba's remedy against the same; it was not wheat that was ground but the Cholera itself was ground to pieces and pushed out of the village. From this time onward, the Cholera Epidemic subsided and the people of the village were happy. I was much pleased to know all this; but at the same time my curiosity was also aroused. I began to ask myself - What earthly connection was there between wheat flour and Cholera? What was the casual relation between the two? And how to reconcile them? The incident seems to be inexplicable. I should write something on this and sing to my heart's content Baba's sweet Leelas. Thinking in this way about this Leela, my heart was filled with joy and I was thus inspired to write Baba's Life - The Satcharita.

And as we know, with Baba's grace and blessing this work was successfully accomplished.

Philosophical Significance of Grinding

Apart from the meaning that the people of Shirdi put on this incident of grinding wheat, there is, we think, a philosophical significance too. Sai Baba lived in Shirdi for about sixty years and during this long period; He did the business of grinding almost every day - not, however, the wheat alone; but the sins, the mental and physical afflictions and the miseries of His innumerable devotees. The two stones of His mill consisted of Karma and Bhakti, the former being the lower and the latter the upper one. The handle with which Baba worked the mill consisted of Jnana. It was the firm conviction of Baba that Knowledge or Self-realization is not possible, unless there is the prior act of grinding of all our impulses, desires, sins; and of the three gunas, viz. Sattva, Raja and Tama; and the Ahamkara, which is so subtle and therefore so difficult to be got rid of.

This reminds us of a similar story of Kabir who seeing a woman grinding corn said to his Guru, Nipathiranjana, "I am weeping because I feel the agony of being crushed in this wheel of worldly existence like the corn in the hand-mill." Nipathiranjana replied, "Do not be afraid; hold fast to the handle of knowledge of this mill, as I do, and do not wander far away from the same but turn inward to the Center, and you are sure to be saved."

Bow to Shri Sai -- Peace be to all