Issue 01/18 THE SAI TIMES -UNITY IN DIVINITY 1 The Sai Times -Unity in Divinity July 2018 SAI INSPIRATIONS SAI- SERVICE ADORATION ILLUMINATION-KARMA, BHAKTI, JNYANA IN THIS ISSUE Loving Sairams, dear fellow Contents devotees in this spiritual journey. By the Divine Grace of Lord Sai; a Guru Purnima humble attempt to spread His Shirdi Satcharitra Message message through this newsletter. Sathya Sai Speaks Message GURU PURNIMA Guru Prayers This year Guru Purnima falls on Guru Story Friday, 27th July 2018 GURU PADUKA Manasa Bhajare Guru Charanam Sai Events July 2018 On this full moon day, all spiritual Sadhana aspirants and devotees worship "Meditate in thy mind on the Feet of the Guru. Vyasa in honor of his divine Seva and Sadhana activities This can take you across the difficult sea of personage and all disciples perform a existence in birth after birth." A Gratitude Note 'puja' of their respective spiritual preceptor, or Gurudevs. THE SAI TIMES -UNITY IN DIVINITY | Issue 01/18 2 themselves to their Sri Shirdi Sai Satcharitra Gurus, Vasishtha S and Sandipani About the Necessity of a Guru respectively, for getting self- Hemadpant has left no note, no realization and that memo about what Baba said the only virtues regarding this subject, but Kakasaheb necessary for such Dixit has published his notes progress are faith regarding this matter. Next day after and patience. Hemadpant’s meeting with Sai Baba, Kakasaheb went to Baba and asked (Vide Sai whether he should leave Shirdi. Baba Satcharitra, Ch. II, Said, "Yes". Then someone asked - 191-92). "Baba, where to go?" Baba said, "High up." Then the man said, "How is the Sathya Sai Speaks way?" Baba said, "There are many Guru Purnima ways leading there; there is one way Message also from here (Shirdi). The way is heart, ready to lead and enlighten. He difficult. There are tigers and wolves This day is a day set apart for the is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all- in the jungles on the way." I worship of the Guru. Who is the Guru? pervading. (Kakasaheb) asked - "But Baba, what How can a person who has not Sathya Sai Speaks V12:Ch42, Divine if we take a guide with us?" Baba reached the goal guide you towards Discourse July 1974 answered, - "Then there is no it? When he is himself groping in the difficulty. The guide will take you dark, how can he illumine your path? straight to your destination, avoiding Most Gurus who profess to lead are wolves, tigers and ditches etc. on the themselves not quite sure of the road GURU PRAYERS way. If there be no guide, there is the or quite convinced of the rightness of danger of your being lost in the their path. 'Gu' means darkness, or GururBrahmaa GururVisnu jungles or falling into ditches." Mr. ignorance; "ru" its removal. So the Gururdevo Maheshvarah | Dabholkar was present on this Guru must know the process by which Guru sakshat parahma Brahma occasion and he thought that this was ignorance can be removed in another. tasmai Shri Gurave Namah ||1|| the answer Baba gave to the question How can he do it when he has not whether Guru was a necessity (Vide done it for himself? The blind cannot Akhandamannddalaakaaram Sai Leela Vol. I, No.5, Page 47); and lead the blind. Vyaaptam Yena Charaacharam | he thereupon took the hint that no discussion of the problem, whether Guru has another meaning too. 'Gu' Tatpadam Darshitam Yena man is free or bound, is of any use in means gunaatheetha (beyond the Tasmai Shri Gurave Namah || three strands of energy of which the spiritual matters, but that on the contrary real Paramartha is possible Cosmos is composed) and 'ru' only as the result of the teachings of means rupa-rahitha (devoid of any the Guru, as is illustrated in this particular form). Now, no mortal has chapter of the original work in the transcended the guna (quality) and instances of great Avatars like Rama rupa (form). God alone can be and Krishna, who had to submit described as unaffected by these. And, God is the Guru, right in your THE SAI TIMES -UNITY IN DIVINITY | Issue 01/18 3 STORY TIME “Me!?” said the little fish, “What do SAI EVENTS you want to speak to me about?” Surrendering at the feet of July 2018 our Master/Guru/God “We actually want to ask you something. Tomorrow morning, the 14 July- Saturday- Bhajans, Satsang fisherman will be back again. Are and Live painting at Shirdi Sai you not scared of getting caught in Temple Serangoon evening 5-8pm his net?” 27 July- Guru Purnima “The little fish smiled, “No! I will not Sai Satcharitra Akhand Parayan be caught in his net ever!” hosted by Ruchi Prakash “Share with us little one, the secret 15 July and 27 July 18 behind your confidence and success”, the elders pleaded. Tapovanam parayans- Sri Sathya Sai Satcharitra Parayan at devotees “Very simple”, said the little fish. homes. Value- Love “When the fisherman comes to cast his net, I rush and stay at his feet. SADHANA Sub value- Faith, Devotion That is one place that the net can never reach, even if the fisherman The 3 paths for Sadhana are Bhakti, Once upon a time, there lived many Jnyana and Karma fish in a pond. Every day, they would wants to cast! So, I never get wake up in the morning with a dread caught.” The three-wheeler analogy... – the fisherman’s net! The fisherman All the fish simply marvelled at the The journey to God or one Self is would be there every morning, simplicity of the little fish’s wisdom. without fail to cast his net. And made through a three-wheeler. Each without fail every morning, many http://saibalsanskaar.wordpress.com wheel represents respectively the fish would get caught in it. Some Bhakti Marga, the Karma Marga and would be taken by surprise, some Learning the Jnana Marga. Based on one’s caught napping, some would not inclination and aptitude, one can Having complete faith in God or your place either of them as the front find any place to hide while some Master or teacher. God can be others, even though aware of the wheel. But the other two wheels are considered as our Master. We must lurking danger, would simply find no important too. have faith and trust in our means to escape the deadly net. Master/God. We must put in our best So, one can choose to Among the fish, there was one efforts in whatever we do and leave sing bhajans and do namasmarana. young fish that was always cheerful. the rest to Him; hold on to Him. That does not exempt one from It had no fear of the fisherman’s net Then He will take care of us and do doing service and inquiring into the and it seemed to have mastered the what is right for us. We will be able Reality of the Self. The same holds art of being alive and staying lively. to handle trial and tribulations better good for one engaged in service or All the senior fish wondered as to and be saved from many troubles. meditation - no exemption from the what might be the secret of this little other two. This is because, all the fish? How could it manage so well three are necessary if one has to when their cumulative experience proceed towards one’s goal - oneself and wisdom were not enough to or God. save them from the net. Unable to bear their curiosity and desperate to So, by His grace; we have all the find a way to escape the net, all the above 3 in our sadhana practices. fishes went to this little fish one evening. “Hey little one! We have all come here to talk to you.” THE SAI TIMES -UNITY IN DIVINITY | Issue 01/18 4 REGULAR SEVA AND SADHANA Sathya Sai Bhajans and Seva* A Gratitude Note ACTIVITIES Sai bhajans- 8-9pm every Monday at Grateful to the Divine Masters for GROUP SADHANA Ceylon Road temple 2nd floor their grace. Shirdi Sai Temple- Serangoon 7.30-9pm every Thursday at 133 Grateful to Singapore which embraces Moulmein road all religions and known for its racial Daily Schedule harmony 7am Temple Opens, Kakad (Sunrise) Narayan seva- Monthly seva for Aarti. domestic helpers. Teach English and Grateful to Bharat Ma from where the 7.30am Mangal snaan of Shri Sai serve lunch on 2nd and 4th Sundays. knowledge has come Baba (Holy Bath), Archana. 12 noon Madhyan (Mid-day) Aarti. SSE classes- Education in Human Grateful to all readers in this spiritual 12.30pm Temple Closes. Values for children aged 5-16 every journey. Saturday 5-7.30pm at Ceylon Road 5.30pm Temple Opens. Love All Serve All 6.30pm Dhoop (Sunset) Aarti. Temple 7pm Bhajan Sandhya. Tapovanam Parayans**- Help Ever Hurt Never 8.30pm Shej (Night) Aarti. 9pm Temple Closes. Tuesday Group Parayan of Sri “Samastha Lokaha Sukhino Sathya Sai Satcharitra- Tapovanam Bhavantu”- “May all the beings in all Tuesday: 10am – 11.45am the worlds be happy” 7pm - 8pm:Satsang : Sundara Kanda *- All the above are held island wide; I have listed Chapter from Ramayana only a few centers which I attend For further details on any of the above please contact us at ** Done from the comfort and convenience of Thursday:11am – 11.45am :Satsang one’s home (7am-7pm) and coordinated via whats [email protected] : Interpretation of Aarti, Sai app Satcaritra. O Lord, take my love, and let it flow INDIVIDUAL SADHANA AND SEVA 5.30pm:Vishnu Sahasranamam, Sai in fullness of devotion to Thee; OPPORTUNITIES Astotram O Lord, take my hands, and let 7 pm - 7.30pm:Satsang Akhand parayans- Both Sri Shirdi Sai them work incessantly for Thee; : Interpretation of Aarti, Sai Satcharitra and Tapovanam Parayan O Lord, take my mind and thoughts, Satcaritha at devotees’ homes.