Reading of Shri Vishnu Sahasra-Naam..

"The efficacy of God's name is well-known.It saves us from all sins and bad tendencies, frees us from cycle of births and deaths.There is no easier Sadhna than this.It is the best purifier of our mind.It requires no paraphernalia and no restrictions.It is so easy and so effective". Baba's upadesh to Shama for  reading Shri Vishnu Sahasra -Naam.
ShriVishnu Sahasra naam , A book containing 1000 names in praise of Lord Vishnu .This book is indeed very valuable and efficacious. Baba suggested Shama who was rustic in mastering or even reading the tough sanskrit text of the sahasra naam to read slowly little by little at least one name at a time.The reading and study of the naam purifies the mind and brings in a inner peace difficult to describe in words.
I had heard about the Stotram many a times but did not take up any interest to get any knowledge or idea of what lay inside this treasure by Muni Vyasa.
A few days back while reading the Satcharita, I  came across the chapter XXVII where Baba gives this advise to Shama..For the past few days a certain thought was clouding the mind which I was not comfortable of and I had been begging Baba to relief my mind.That is when these paragraphs struck me massively.The funny part being , I have read this chapter so many times before but it did not motivate me to take notice.But then as we all know Baba sends most of His answers and solution through The ever wonderful Sai Satcharita. So I did some searching on the net and gathered the importance of this poetic wonder .Its many significance and how history is wrapped around it taking us back to Mahabharatha and Bhishma pitamaha's recitaion of the Vishnu Sahasranaam to Yudhisthri's quieries.
I am extremely ignorant and my education limited .Never have I ever uttered a word of sanskrit and likewise was hesitant to go ahead with the venture of reading the stotram but like Baba has said ...read slowly one name at a time.I got all the courage and have started reading.I can vouch and say the stotram is indeed powerful and very addictive.The phonetic has been used in a way that enables us to read with ease and sound vibration creates an atmosphere that transcends us to a very peaceful core within.  I feel benefited.I look forward to every morning when after my bath I sit and read at least a few names.
 For anyone who wants to try this beautiful and wonderful advise by my SAI can visit a pdf version of the same by swami krisnanda This website has the English explanations  thus making it easier to follow.
Baba is ever merciful.He always finds a way to direct His beloved children to the desired path. I have a long way to go , many demons to overcome.But I have faith in my Sai and holding onto His feet I will walk on the direction He sends me with joy.
                                                       Om Sai Ram

Baba's method to follow on argumentative situations...

                     Baba looking so beautiful.Today being a thursday , Baba is all decked up :) 
Initially all my days and evenings would pass by just in the effort to know about Baba's life story by reading the wonderful leelas of His devotees all around the world and  listening and chanting His songs and name .Life changed emotionally 306 deg.That is the beauty of our beloved Sai. 
He transforms the core of our soul . He makes us better person.No trouble in life is big enough , no harsh words of others matter anymore.All that is required are we close our outer self and remember Sai.Its a wonderful trick or magic to be calm and shut off any unwanted situations of life from affecting us negatively.Its an awesome mechanism that Baba passed on to us.Those who are familiar with His messages through reading The Sai Satcharitra , are aware where Baba says that we remain calm and let things pass by. All we need to do is keep watching these unwanted situations silently and not be perturbed.To absorb all such comments and not utter back anything harsh..'stay in your spot and watch the world pass by'.
And how can we do this tough task? As human , we have a tendency to react to and place our point to the argument whether right or wrong and no arguments come to an end without self hurt or hurting the other party.the end result is stress and an uncalm mind and feelings of bitterness.
Hence Baba send this mechanism to control the situation. It needs a bit of practise initially but with time and patience this technique is mastered ....and then all is bliss.
How do we do it? Simple , when someone is rude, situations of quarrel or argument is brewing...we have to just bring all our thoughts and concentrate them on the Form of Sai, His lotus feet, His loving eyes,His sweetest smile and His ever assuring blessing form.

This is the only form we know of that will give us all happiness and heaven on earth.....Our ever loving Baba Sai.Keep chanting Om Sai as many times as we can in our mind and all other human noise melts away and we are in cosmic oneness with Baba who loves us unconditionally accepting us as His beloved children with all our flaws.
 I have benefited with this method many a times .everyday life is a lot more less stressful when we surrender our senses to Baba.Our argumentative mind attains stability and calmness and we emerge out better human being both at home and in the world outside.
                                                                Om Sai Ram

love and Faith in Baba is the food for our soul..

"Come what may,leave not,but stick to your Guru and remain steady, always in union with Him" ---Shri Shirdi Sai Baba

Life throws many favorable and unfavorable tests on us....remembering Baba's words and staying strong in our faith at Baba's blessings will help us sail through with ease.He advices us to follow our intellect and do our job , all the time remembering Him and holding on strongly to the unshakable faith on Baba.As time rolls so does our problems which rolls off and away from us.

One of Baba's advice comes to mind. On being asked by Damu Anna as whether all who flock at Shirdi get benefit from Him? To this Baba gave the example of the mango tree in blossom.If all the flowers were to become fruit,it would give us a splendid crop...but they don't in practicality.Most fall off before they ripen into sweet edible fruits.Very few remain.

Its our example.we are the sweet fruits, flowers or unripened fruit...which either remain or fall off.
In situations thick or thin , staying and holding on to Baba with full faith and loads of love filled to the brim of our soul for Baba irrespective of the situation we are in life and completely blindly believing in Sai our savior , we can sail through any events in life with happiness.Its Sai's grace, His lotus feet that is our goal .we keep that goal steady with Shraddha and Saburi...We then become the ripened sweet mangoes of the tree and not the lost ones blown away by wind.
lets pray and ask Baba to give us blessings so we can stand the test of time and stay focused on our devotion for Him...our beloved Maa , our most merciful Baba Shri Sai.
                                                                    Om Sai Ram