The Official Bookcentre of the Sai Organization in Canada
Phone: (416) 481-7242 (SAIB)
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E-Mail:saibooks@hotmail.com


November 2001 Volume 7 No. 4

Aum Sri Sai Ram!

On the 23rd day of this month we celebrate 76th year of the advent of our beloved Lord Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.  Swami has said that there is no need to wish him Happy Birthday as he is always happy.  We must celebrate the birth of the divinity within our own hearts when it dawns on us that we and God are one and the same.  Swami as Sai Baba is lovingly called is here to help us realize this oneness through his numerous discourses.  Some of his talks are being offered to you in this issue in the form of Benedictory addresses and Summer Showers.  We also urge you to take advantage of the Sathya Sai Speaks series containing Sri Sathya Sai Baba's talks in 30 volumes ranging in prices from $4.25 to $6.25.  We begin our reviews with the book on our beloved Swami's previous incarnation as Sai Baba of Shirdi which is a small town in the province of Maharashtra, India.

Please make a note of the change in our email address at the top right corner of this newsletter.  Until further notification our email address to send in your enquiries would be saibooks@hotmail.com.  We are happy to inform you that this year's Akhanda Bhajan is scheduled to be conducted with joint efforts of all Sai Centres and devotional groups in Toronto at centennial college, Markham and Progress Avenue on November 10th & 11th.  Please contact the book centre or your nearest Sai Centre if you require further details.

SAI'S STORY - SHIRDI SAI FEATURE OF THE MONTH
Step into Shirdi of Sai Baba's time.  Become a part of the vivid, mellow scenes where devotees adore their enigmatic living master.  Experience Sai's love for his 'children':  whether it is scorching his arm in his eternally burning dhuni(sacred fire), to save a girl from being burnt to death elsewhere;  or the bilocation as a tonga-wallah (horse carriage driver) to see a devotee safely to his destination.  But Sai's unpredictability keeps his children alert and introspective, lest they lose self-awareness.  Hear Baba expound the advaitic (non-dualistic) philosophy with the simplicity that the 'poor' kafni-clad fakir exemplified.  Let him demand of you his dakshina (money offering to a holy person) of two coins:  It is Shraddha (faith with intense interest) in the guru, and Saboori (patience) to await the result.  Learn from Sai's unorthodox ways-a combination of Hindu and Islamic faiths and some his own-that the essence of all religions is ONE and the loveable fakir himself is beyond all limitations-DIVINITY itself.  Price:  $4.25; US$3.00

BENEDICTORY ADDRESSES BY THE REVERED CHANCELLOR SRI SATHYA SAI BABA
With the love of a thousand mothers, Bhagavan Baba has declared that His entire property consists of His students.  And naturally, therefore, the Revered Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, in each of His Discourses, emphasizes on the students the need to live a life based on purity of heart, love and compassion for the entire mankind - nay all beings and this is what the institute is trying to infuse in the students to become noble citizens of the country and thereby plunge in the service of the society.
At the Annual Convocation of the Institute, which is held on November 22 each year, it is a unique privilege of the students of the Institute to be blessed by Benedictory Address delivered by the Revered Chancellor.
The present volume gives the Benedictory Addresses of fourteen Convocations (1982-95) and also the Inaugural Discourse on November 22, 1981 of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.  Price:  $4.50; US$3.20

THE OMNIPRESENCE OF SAI - SOME EXAMPLES
The author of this book Mr. Lowenberg hails from South Africa.  Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba said to the author that He will show examples of His omnipresence in South Africa.  Since then the author came across many devotees of Baba and has recorded their amazing experiences of Swami's omnipresence in this book titled The Omnipresence of Sai.  The reader will find here some of the experiences of Dr. Frank Baranowski who is an expert in Aura photography and describes the aura of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba and the circumstances that brought him to His Lotus Feet.  The reader will also find here rich spiritual experiences from long time devotees like Phyllis Krystal, humorous quips from Late Prof. Kasturi who is adored by all Sai devotees, articles from The Golden Age published some years back, written by two Christian Ministers, The Reverend Canon John Rossner whom the author had the pleasure of meeting at Sai Baba's Ashram and Reverend Robert Pipes.  Also included is an episode from a rich Swedish man who gave up his estate worth millions and started serving on Sai Baba's insistence by rehabilitating people with problems of drug addiction and other criminal charges.  The author has also given his own spiritual experiences and reflections on Sai Baba's teachings, which will surely enrich the readers with good spiritual knowledge.  Price:  $8.95; US$6.30

[Also available from the same author are At the Feet of Sai  (price: $8.95; US$6.30), Grace of Sai  (Price: $8.95; US$6.30), & Heart of Sai  (Price: $9.95; US$7.00)]

SUMMER SHOWERS 1972 - DISCOURSES FOR THE YOUTH
The philosophy of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba lays stress on the core of Love and Bliss in each human being.  Cutting across all distinctions, it underlines the brotherhood of man and the Fatherhood of God.  It promotes Truth, Righteousness, Peace and Love, in the individual, the family, the society, the nation and the world.  As an instrument for the reconstruction of humanity on these pillars, Bhagavan has planned Summer Courses in Spirituality and Indian Culture, of a month's duration, to groups of college students and teachers gathered from all the states of India.  Each course includes lectures by eminent scholars, thinkers, administrators and repositories of classical learning and exponents of art, on all Religions, Vedanta and other systems of philosophy, Science and its impact on cultural values, Mystics and Saints of all lands, and kindred subjects which will foster the values so essential for an educated person today.  As a practical supplement to these discourses, the students will have bhajan (devotional singing), meditation, yoga training, self-help activities, social service programmes in the villages around the place where the Course is held.  Bhagavan Himself discourses every evening at the Camp, amplifying and clarifying the points raised during the lectures of the day, and elaborating in His unique sweet and simple style, with plenty of parables and stories, His Message of Love.  These Discourses are herewith offered for the edification of all, so that His message to the students might be studied and assimilated by all those who are interested in the uplift of youth.  The book will also serve as an introduction to the teachings of the Avatar of the Age, for the uplift of humanity.  Price: $3.95; US$2.80

I, WE & HE BY INDULAL SHAH - Review by Gopal Mehta

Mr. Indulal Shah the author of this book I WE AND HE has almost four decades of close association with Bhagavan Baba and presently he is the chairman of the World Council of Sri Sathya Sai Organization.  He tells us that God has taken the human form from age to age and He is in our midst in the form of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.  The author describes Sai Baba's role as a Universal Teacher as His message embraces the essence of all major religions of the world and tells us that all the believers and non-believers of God are in fact devotees of God as long as one follows the human values in life.

The book describes the bliss that we get by attaching ourselves to God as to what Wordsworth described "an intimation of immortality".  It calls for all the aspirants of spirituality to make an honest self-audit and self-appraisal and then make an attempt to overcome the limitations in our journey to God.  We should ask ourselves the questions like, "Have I done anything to make others happy" or "Am I today a better person than what I was yesterday".  Mr. Shah writes in detail on the management of thoughts, breath and time, which will help us to increase the quality and quantity of our work.  Some of Sai Baba's discourses in brief on these vital issues are included in this book.  Sri Sai Baba's work for the humanity is described as wheels in motion of the spiritual revolution.  In this process, He is educating people of all ages.  The book emphasizes Sai Baba's message of selfless love and service to the needy as a very important requirement of the followers of all faiths.  Sri Sai Baba declared such selfless service as "the visa to live with God".

This book explains the author's understanding of the three boons to humanity namely, Divine Blessings, Divine Grace and Divine Will.  As per the author, God's blessings and Grace earned through our spiritual practices will bring the aspirants to "We" from "I".  However it is the Divine Will besides our selfless service to the society which will lead us from "We" to "He", the ultimate goal of peace and bliss.  This book will be of immense help for pilgrims' progress in their spiritual journey.  Price:  $6.95; US$4.90

SELF - A STUDY IN A CIRCLE - A FINE GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS - Review by Karuna Munshi

This is a gem of a book from the U.K. to clear the cobwebs of the mind about Swami and His teachings.  It is a reader-friendly study circle resource based on extensive research by the author.  Just as the Gita is said to contain the distilled juice of the Upanishads, this book is a fine print on the essence of Sai literature, especially the Sathya Sai Speaks and Vahini series.  The author has captured the true spirit of Sai teachings and to prove the universality of their application against major world religions, he has included examples, scriptural passages and anecdotes from various faiths and literatures.  The fine poems, graphics and quotes interspersed throughout the book are an added attraction.  It's a must-have for any Sai library and a great one-stop guide to catch the gist of Sai philosophy.

The interesting details about the scriptures, ancient civilizations and other anecdotes from history revealed for the first time in Kali age by Swami himself are contained in the final pages of the book and make compelling reading.  This book is highly recommended for those who wish to understand the inner significance of the Sai culture.  It is also a fine gift for friends and family members who still have lingering questions and doubts about Swami.  Well researched and well written, the book offers an insight into the underlying universality of all major faiths in light of Sai teachings.  It is an intelligent man's guide to experiencing a deeper, richer level of spirituality and highly recommended for those seeking a clearer spiritual perspective in life.  Also makes a great gift for those who are not absolutely clear on the principles of Sai's message.  Imported from the U.K. and priced at CAN$24.95 (US $17.45)

BHAGAVAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA - LORD OF THE UNIVERSE
This beautiful handy pocket sized book is published by the Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications trust in Chennai, India.  It contains various aspects of Bhagavan Baba as described by the Vedic scholars and a suitable book for all Sai devotees who would like to contemplate on their beloved Lord Sri Sathya Sai Baba.  It serves as a good introductory book for those who like to acquaint themselves with the essence of Sai Baba's philosophy.  Also contains lovely pictures of our beloved Lord.  It makes an exquisite gift!   Price:  $1.00; US$1.00

Jai Sai Ram!

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