Life is a forest, you are going through it with Sai Baba next to you

Sairam friends,

Hope you are doing good. Last evening, I went to Sai Baba temple, sat in the main hall and was chanting Sai’s holy name. None could hear it. So don’t worry. I did not spoil the sanctity of the temple. he he…You can scroll down to read my Sai friend Ana’s beautiful article for StarSai. Before that, today my heart desires to post original photograph of Shirdi Saibaba.

Accepting my small life

This morning, we had given for pooja to Guru Bhagavan in the Siddhi Vinayaka temple in our colony. During pooja, I was thinking if its right to worry that I din’t do anything good and if the world is only for ambitious people? My previous article “Why I fail in all that I dream to do?” is simply an expression of the big dreams I have.

When ever I tell my Mom that Indra has done a lot to make them proud but I did nothing, my Mom tells that I am with them and take care of them and I must be satisfied for that.

I have this friend called Priya who was little worried that she din’t focus on her career after getting married and having a child. After few month, when I asked her about it, she told me that she’s happy that she has a good husband and a lovely daughter for which she must be thankful to Sai. May be, I must be satisfied with the way Sai wanted me to shape my life rather than worrying that I din’t do anything big.

I wanted to make myself feel good and listening to Hindi songs I like most. Currently running – Thoda Sa Pyar Hua Hai, Thoda hai Baaki by Udit Narayan Jha and Alka Yagnik. Truly an alternative when I get bored of listening to “Sun raha hai na tu” over 5 times repeatedly. By the time, I complete this article, I will be listening to Madhyaan Aarti of Shirdi Sai Baba.

Some of you call me “Guruji” while writing to me. Reality is you might be more devoted to Sai than me. One of my friends Mom in Mumbai seems to always tell her “Ask your Guruji about …”. I requested her to tell her Ma that I am a big fraud. Her Mom continues to call that way! he he…

Lets search for meaning of “Fraud”
A  person or thing intended to deceive others, typically by unjustifiably claiming or being credited with accomplishments or qualities.

That does make sense because all the good I write comes from Sai. How can I be credited for what Sai Baba does? I am lifeless without Sai. Further, I wanted to abolish the perception about someone who serves God or Sai. I can be myself and still serve Sai. If I am so good, then why do I argue with my parents and even friends for that matter?

Probably, I only express my part where I say that I am listening to Sai aarti or Mahalakshmi mantra etc, and that I went to Saibaba temple and about the pooja I do. So people who have not seen me assume that I am too spiritual. I simply belong to Sai and hence he gives me experience and gets some work done through me. You can always call me by my name “Venkat” which actually means “The one who removes Sins”. I read it in Shree Paadha Sree Vallabha Charitramrutam.

Now listen to beautiful words from my Sai friend Ana!

Life Is A Forest, You Are Going Through It With Sai Baba Next To You

My name is Ana.

I was invited by Venkat so kindly to write something for his readers in Starsai. I feel very blessed to do this. I didn’t expect this invitation, but I feel it is an opportunity to serve Sai Baba and all of you. I’m the girl who wrote to Venkat about my cat and how Sai Baba helped her at the time of her death.

– Saibaba’s Aarti helps beautiful Cat to sleep peacefully

I deeply hope that by the time you are done reading this you will have taken something good from my words, and that you are inspired to seek Sai Baba’s blessing, no matter what is happening right now in your life.

We are living in a world that is very fast paced. This has pro and cons and some of the cons are the stress and impact all of this fast-paced life may have upon our lives and health, all sides thereof—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. For me it is indispensable to have a definite place where I can truly be myself and get a hold of my thoughts, a place of tranquility and peace. I’ve read that spending just less than three minutes in nature can help you with several stress issues.

What are our maps to Sai Baba?

I am from the Central American republic of Nicaragua and live in the U.S., in a place far away from India and Shirdi in the United States. I have never lived in India or been close to India, even, but what are our maps to Sai Baba? He is everywhere, and as he taught during his lifetime, religion, nationality and other such differences between human beings have nothing to do with his mission. I don’t want to get into detail about where exactly I live, but in any case there is a park near my home that is beautiful, with a small wood, a creek, and plenty of recreational space, beautiful trees, and closeness to nature. Therefore, about this personal space in this park and woods, I will tell you a story.

One summer night two years ago, it was very hot inside the house and I had insomnia. A short time after the sun rose I walked to the park and felt so sad because of the burden of the health issues I had then, that I even started to cry. I started to cry because I was discouraged of being sick and in pain. When I get like that, I pray to Baba always, as an automatic reaction. This has become so through a time of about eleven years.

Surrendering to Sadguru

In less than a month Baba sent a new, positive-minded doctor who helped me to take care of my muscle problems with more success than other doctors before. This was two years ago, he helped me with my muscle problems.

Baba has never left me when I am in dire need, and he never will. This confidence and trust in Sai Baba is what is called “surrendering to” Sadguru; it is when you know life presents problems that are too big for one person, but not for God and saints. So even if you have a horrible problem, Baba assures you that he will get you through that and more, and that in itself is reason enough for you to feel better right now if you are suffering. Problem after problem after problem, no matter how hard life can be at times, Baba really takes care of me. Believe me, my life presents so many obstacles, but every day I am shown again that Sai is protecting me and having mercy on me again.

I would need the space of a book to tell you about my ever-developing, amazing story of how I have experienced this relationship with Sai Baba and his love and affection for me, always healing me, making things better, sustaining me through the horrible storms of life. I can see now that Sai Baba has been protecting me all my life.

Because I have been through so much in life, I have grown a lot, and I keep growing, but I ever have more growing to do…. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have problems and challenges, on the contrary. But the reason I point this out is that many people, as I understand who write to Venkat, are at a difficult moment in time, and I can empathize and relate so much more than I can say to some of the things you are concerned about.

Sai Baba’s messages are so sweet, more than melted honey

Take just studies and career as an example: in times past when I was younger, I thought before I’d be too sick to complete my degree, and that things would go wrong. Baba saved me always, never ever forgot about me. When I need to know something certain about the future, he lets me know. For example, he assured me that I would complete my studies, even though I didn’t think it was so possible back then. Baba knows my needs and how difficult some of my problems are, so he sends messages especially in times of work and accomplishing goals. His messages are so sweet, more than melted honey. He has such patience with me… more than any human being could. This is a matter of course.

My sadness faded away through the pure, caring words of children

Another day, I was sad in the park, feeling discouraged before sunset one day, and sitting by myself listening to music with my earphones on. Then, I was totally surprised by a little girl and her sister who had taken the trouble to come to me to ask me what was wrong in my native language. “Why are you sad?” she asked me, and then all my sadness faded away through the pure, caring words of these children who showed kindness most adults nowadays reserve. We all must learn from children and try for our hearts to be like theirs, because once we become adults our hearts constantly get weary. Their example is always an encouragement.

Every time I see butterflies, I think of Sai Baba

In these woods also, there was another time I saw a butterfly. I felt that it flew by as a message from Sai Baba, comforting me from my pains and everyday life woes that we all go through, but that sometimes build up and makes one feel discouraged. Now every time I see butterflies I think of Sai Baba, and how much he loves me, directly and warmly, like a mother would. That is the way he loves all of you who come to him or whom he calls.

Sai motivates us when things are hard in life

Miracles and life and devotion is different for everyone, but Baba is a great saint who turns no one away, and… sometimes you will go to Baba with a problem, but the more time that goes by the better you can understand your own life. Baba saves us in ways which we can’t even imagine. He makes our lives sweet in ways we can’t even comprehend. He sustains our progress in this life, motivates us when things are hard, and he understands our suffering through the illusion of Maya.

When you feel how much Baba loves you, God loves you; you will feel blessed and thankful with the sincerity of your heart. Sai Baba heals you, whether your problem is inside or outside, and this sooner or later will make you mindful of the great, great luck that you have to be invited to the presence of Sai. It means your path is truly golden, truly moving forward; maybe you will be released soon from the cycle of life and death and gain enlightenment.

Nothing you do is too small

No prayer is too small for Sai Baba. He hears all your prayers and acts upon them, and all you need to do is receive this grace and give humble thanks and remembrance, have patience and faith. Many, many years ago when I most needed help my mom used to say to me that even lighting a candle was praying, and that that counted. Indeed, God accepts any prayer you make. Sai Baba listens to you always. Nothing you do is too small.

If you look to me, I look to you – Shirdi Sai Baba

Remember what Baba says, when you look to him, he looks to you. Therefore, maybe all you need to do is look to him and in that moment, the healing will begin for you. All  that you need to do is look ahead at the road, and remember that Sai is walking next to you, every day, until you cross this road (life) safely.
Wherever you can find and feel truly that Sai Baba is with you, like I do in my wood that is a good place to be. To fight off stress and depression feelings, anxiety too, or anything, go in nature and your mind will get a breath of fresh air.
If you are suffering, remember Baba, tell him your thoughts and prayers. Be patient, and very soon he will answer to you. Then it will become a habit to be patient, then it will become a habit to have faith, the more you have both, the more you will grow in these virtues and be saved from whatever ails you, through His grace.

Loving Sai Rams,

Ana

Hope you like Ana’s words to inspire you to show devotion on Shirdi Saibaba friends. What I like most is when she says ” Now every time I see butterflies I think of Sai Baba, and how much he loves me, directly and warmly, like a mother would.”

May you be blessed with such love on Sai that every time you see butterflies, you think of Sai.

Such…Much..Love!
Venkat