United Souls of America for Sai - Commemorative Volume Celebration 85 years of the Divine Advent

Excerpts shared for educational and spiritual purposes with reverence to the author. This is a non-profit project dedicated to selfless service.

Sangeeta lives in Houston, Texas with her wonderful family- her husband Sanjai and two lovely girls Saakshi and Simran. Her devotion to Bhagawan has been strengthened by her life experiences, especially the cure from cancer that Bhagawan brought about for Simran. Her story of faith and devotion can move the most skeptical of minds.

Swami Listens ...

by Sangeeta Jatar

I am truly blessed by our beloved Lord Satya Sai Baba who has given me this opportunity to share His leela with all of His devotees. But before I begin narrating my experience, I would like to share a little bit of my background with you all. I live in Houston, Texas with my family. We have lived here for the past 14 years. I presently work in Administration and Finance and enjoy my work very much. I have a wonderful family - my husband Sanjai and my two lovely girls Saakshi and Simran.

My entire journey with Bhagwan has been very mystical and I have had some amazing experiences which I will be sharing with you all. From my childhood I have always visited Shirdi, my mother being an ardent devotee of Baba. Honestly, I will confess that, I always believed in God but never devoted much time to prayer as deeply as I do today. As they say Baba has his way of bringing you into His fold at His time. I am very blessed that He did.

My real meeting with God as I would like to put it was in 2005 when my daughter Simran who was 8 years at that time was diagnosed with cancer and my world came crumbling down. Just before her diagnosis Simran had spent her summer vacation with my brother and his wife Lina in Boston. Lina being an ardent devotee of Satya Sai Baba had taken Simran to the Boston Sai Center. On Simran's return from Boston, we got the diagnosis. At the same time my sister-in-law Lina was given a rudraksha by a devotee in the Sai Center in Boston saying that Swami has sent it for a child who is very sick. Lina immediately knew that it was for Simran and she sent it to me. That was my first connection with our Swami. That was Swami's way of saying to me that He was there to protect her.

As I took Simran through this very tough journey of getting her treated, Swami walked with us all along and one day at a time my faith in Swami gave me the strength to take care of my Simran. For me it was like walking on thorns, but Swami really did numb my feet so that I did not feel the pain as much. It was then that I started my conversations with Him, none the less to mention I still had some doubts and questioned Him a lot. I challenged Baba a lot to but every time I did that, He showed me that He was listening and that He is omnipresent. I will never forget this one dream (this was when Simran was going through her last chemotherapy) where Baba appeared at 4: 10 in the morning and said to me "I have taken care of her leg, what Dakshina are you going to give?" It was amazing and that one dream transformed the way I began to think and feel. I was a new person! I have never had dreams of God, and I began to have dreams of Swami.

Finally, when Simran was done with her treatment which took a whole year in the hospital I decided to go visit Swami in Puttaparthi, that was December of 2006 for the first time ever! My trip to Puttaparthi was life - changing. I stood in long lines very early in the morning thinking there is no way I will ever get a close darshan, almost impossible! So, I decided to test Baba once more. While I was seated in the darshan hall I said to Swami" if you are really listening to me, I want you to seat me right in the front line," just then a seva dal out of the blue asked me to get up from where I was sitting and to go sit in the front row. Swami now comes into the darshan hall and stops right where I am seated and all of you who have visited Swami know that when Baba looks at you there is no second guessing about that glance. That's when I knew He was again omnipresent and He listens.

During the same trip I asked Baba for a photo of His, signed by Him so that I could bring it back to Houston for Simran. When I reached Bangalore, I received a beautiful photo of Swami signed by Him saying "with love Baba." Of course this was opened by Simran on my return, and it has always since been besides Simran's bedside on her wall. So, this is how Swami our beloved Lord answers our prayers.

My deepest desire was to finally take Simran to Puttaparthi but I refused to take her unless Swami Himself indicated that it was the right time to do so. After many prayers and lots of patience and faith as Baba puts it - “Shradha and Saburi” Swami appeared in my dream once more. I remember asking Him in my dream whether we should make this trip and He said very clearly in Hindi, “yes, yes bring her.” So, with utmost excitement I booked our tickets to India, and we went for Baba's darshan as a family for the first time. This was in December of 2008. As we sat in the darshan hall waiting for our Lord He made the grand entry not in his car but in his chair and as I will stress over and over again that Baba listens to our prayers, our thoughts and our conversations. He came right in front of us and gave us the most amazing darshan ever. With all that grace and energy, we returned to Houston. It was like being born again! No more fear now; knowing that he is there and is watching over us. I knew at that moment that Swami had cured Simran. I talk to Swami all the time treating Him like a friend, like a divine mother, like a brother; He is everything to me. Baba changed my life forever molding me a little at a time but just imagine if I had not gone through a difficult time, I probably would have never found my Swami. If ever need any guidance any advice I turn right away to Swami and I start my conversations with Him. With complete faith and by surrendering to Him He will act and do what is best for you. The concept is very hard to follow, and I still struggle with it but like anything else it takes practice. Don't be afraid! He is a very compassionate God and He listens.

My sincere gratitude to the Sai families who prayed to Swami for our Simran, and for all their love and support during our very tough times. We could have never done this without your prayers to Sai. And last but not the least we are here because of you Baba, my humble Pranams at your Lotus feet.

Sairam!