Sairam !
One of the best things being a Sai Devotee , a Sai child , is that , nothing is ever theoretical . Be it the sayings you read of Swami , on the net , from his discourses , email alerts , app alerts or verses from the Sathcharithra , if at all a particular sentence was supposed to enter our system , it always comes with a practical implementation . It's upto us to be constantly focused on Swami , to understand and map our events , thoughts with Swami's leelas. While I have been embracing Swami's verses, pictures every time I sit on the net , I began to get a thought that , I should compare and try to draw parallels on what swami had told in his Shiridi Sai avatar , by re-reading the Satcharithra . But I never pursued it , though I was aware of my growing interests to read the book . The last time I completed a reading was when I was in the Americas and I had a blessed chance to go to a Sai Baba temple at a place little far my hotel . Saibaba as usual arranged the whole event . I was one day , in the pantry , watching Swami's videos when a not so close friend ,a lady , apparently a Sai devotee came up for some small talk and he mischievously entered our conversation . Then he went inside her and made her tell me that there is a Sai temple at a place, solely dedicated for Shiridi baba and it's worth going . My heart leaped, but immediately frowned , how will I go there , because it will take up and down 85 $ minimum . Then I thought , I can approach my Manager who accompanied me , in some temple trips . He immediately was in the mood to go a temple and said ,I can take you , there is also a Balaji temple nearby , so we can visit both of them . I was suffused with happiness . The way Swami connects people towards good thoughts , giving a benefit for everyone ! So I went to this temple , again by sheer fortune , I had last 2-3 chapters to be completed in my current parayan and I completed it in front of his sannidhi , while he was watching me , like this ,
and I went and took pada namaskar of the marble feet installed on both the places there , some udi and offered a very humble dakshina . One more amazing thing to note here is , rarely does one notice Sathya Sai Bhajans played in Shiridi Sai Temples ,as the progress of the devotees is not the same , when it comes to realizing the unity of the avatar and they remain , parallel lanes , which is not really a good thing. But here, when I was inside , I heard Sathya Sai bhajans and my faith in the FACT that they are both one and the same was Reinforced yet again .
The location of the temple is this :
Shri Shirdi Sai baba Mandir Chicago,
Sai Samsthan USA,
1101 Foran Lane,
Aurora,
IL60506,
USA. 41° 46' 46.2324" N,
88° 20' 10.914" W
88° 20' 10.914" W
Coming back to my latest thought to read the Satcharithra, One of my cousins who lives in Canada , vaguely texted in a family group about reading the Satcharithra . I initially didnt pursue that message , but something made me ask him what was it about and I came to know there were groups of people reading the Satcharithra , chapter wise, in groups of groups every thursday . Soon ,a lady messaged me, some folks reached out to me and I was inducted into the Mahaparayan Club [ https://experiences.mahaparayan.com/ ] ,where there are classes of 4 groups each , where for each roll number , 2 chapters are allocated and we are supposed to read and confirm the same on a Thursday . What are the odds . Now , Swami has chosen the program so smartly for me . He didn't weigh me down , with the sankalapa of reading it everyday , or within a week , but relaxed , through many weeks while I assimilate the contents of those two chapters for that week .
I mean , what else can you ask for ? He gives the thought , he makes our monkey mind pursue that thought , he encourages that thought , he arranges the people and resources to put that thought in motion , he connects the actions of all those involved , thereby spreading his vibes across his selected group of children , as usual achieving more than one mango on one stone. He also fulfilled his characteristic enigmatic way of encouraging good thoughts by pulling different people on a sadhana that binds all of us together . If someone does all the work for us, from the brain's functioning to living our life the way the mind moves , I think , focusing our mind & thoughts on Swami with selfless love in our heart for him, is all what we need to do . For he has told in the Surrender Prayer as follows :
"Let Me take care of all your business. I shall be the one who will think about them. I am waiting for nothing else than your surrender to Me, and then you do not have to worry any more about anything. Say farewell to all fears and discouragement. Stop being anxious ! I always think of you, but I can help you completely only when you rely fully on Me I shall guide you only if you completely surrender to Me. And when I must lead you on a different path than the one that you expect, I carry you in My arms."
SamasthaLokah Sukhino Bhavanthu
