Issue 5 - January 29, 2017

Editors Note...

Swami has always said, the purpose of all that we do is self-transformation. And only selfless service can encourage a person to reach the higher state of humanity. He has reminded us that “All service should be regarded as an offering to God, and every opportunity to serve should be welcomed as a gift from God. Service should be done in this spirit.” Swami's message this week to the Sai Youth: "Some people will have to work as the engine, and sacrifice more than others.  When they do it consistently, others will follow. If those people don't take the lead and they look at each other and say, 'He is not coming or she is not coming, so why should I come?' Then nothing will happen. Somebody coming or not, should not matter? You are going for whose sake? For your own sake! You are eating for your sake, not for your neighbour's sake. Would you ever compare, 'Oh that boy is eating, so let me eat; that boy is not sleeping, let me also not sleep. We eat and sleep for our sake. Likewise we serve for our sake. If someone comes and participates in the Seva, it is good for him. If someone does not, it is his misfortune. It is a good comparison to say, 'There are people who are doing more than us; look at the other countries, they are doing so much more. We are not doing anything. Let us do something.' Will you ask Me if you want to go and eat food, if you are hungry. When it is time for lunch, you will automatically go and eat. Find out what the need is in your country, and take it up." Seva must be done in a consistent manner. One day if you get breakfast and the next day you don't, will you be happy? Every day we live on earth, we want our breakfast. When the Sun rises, we need our food. So, plan properly to ensure you are consistent in your Seva. Going for a day, and skipping the next two days is not appropriate. Do not engage in a Seva activity, for the sake of printing in the newsletter every week. Seva should be for your own benefit." We are all very blessed to receive such wonderful instructions from the Lord Himself. Urging all the youth to assess the need in your respective countries, and have a planned approach to the Seva activities on a consistent basis. Bhagawan has also commanded that every country should highlight three aspects while sending in their Seva updates, as part of a self introspection process: - What did you learn from going and serving? - What touched your heart?  - How did you become better after the service activity? Swami has always reminded us that 'Service is Love made manifest'. Let us continue to tread in His footsteps of Selfless Love and Selfless Service. Yours in Sai Service Bhuvana Santhanam

Satsang and Service Updates

Australian Youth Meet 2017

Australian youth held a ‘Grama Seva ’ as part of Youth Meet January 2017 . Youth from Perth, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Brisbane came together for Satsang and service inspired by the Grama Seva in Muddenahalli last November.  140 parcels for needy families was organised. The youth arranged and packed food and sanitary items for adults.   School bags, books, pens, colouring pencils, colouring books and toys for children and essential items such as soap, shampoo and toothbrushes for all were packed including some food items.

Youth Seva Activity in Fiji

The youth members of the Sai Prema Foundation Fiji visited Dilkusha, an orphanage home, on Saturday the January 21, 2017. Dilkusha is home to 37 children with the youngest being 9 months of age who had joined the rest of the children just a few weeks prior to the visit. As most of the children had just started school a week ago, the youth felt that it was appropriate to give children back to school stationary packs, food items and a treat as well as spending some quality time with them.

Youth from the Sai Pooja Ashram

Youth from the Sai Pooja Ashram in Indonesia held a Bal Vikas learning programme on the December 11, 2016. This was a fortnightly programme held on Sundays. All students from the Ashram were gathered and the activity started with meditation lead by the youth. This was followed by Bhajans, whereby the Bal Vikas students were encouraged to sing. After Bhajans, the programme continued with Sai Values studies and an English learning programme.

Love & Gratitude

The Youth created a Facebook group and started expressing their gratitude and love for anything that they feel grateful for in their own lives. By Youth taking the lead to express their positive thinking in the form of love and gratitude on this Facebook site, they are inspiring so many others. Those who participated in the 3-day intensive course in self-transformation will be encouraged by the ‘Love and Gratitude project’ to continue their journey into Peaceful Mind and Open Heart using the tool of positive thinking. Similarly, those who are relatively new to the idea of positive thinking, and are coming across the site for the first time, will in all likelihood begin their own programme for reprograming their mind and sharing this with others via the Facebook site.

Education Sponsorship Programme

If there’s one thing that Swami has stressed time and time again, it’s he importance of education – not any kind of education, but the right kind of education.  Swam  s ays,  “Education must open the eyes and enable them to recognise the One behind the many.“

BALI GRAMA SEVA  (DECEMBER 30, 2016 – JANUARY 1, 2017)

Bali. A popular destination for travelers around the world. Known for its beautiful beaches, rice paddies and volcanic mountains, the island is also regularly sought after for its yoga and meditation retreats.   This mystical island was also the site for the Asia Pacific Youth Meet held in August 2016, where the idea for Bali Grama Seva was conceived to be presented as an offering to our beloved Mother Sai.

Along with the Seva project, an EHV Guru programme was conducted on the December 31, 2016 for the primary school teachers. It was mainly focused on integrating Educare Principles into existing curriculum of the school and to introduce light meditation to the students. A light meditation was conducted with the students and teachers and the experience of conducting this for them was beyond amazing!

MEALS ON WHEELS 2ND AND 15TH JANUARY

As a starting base, the Singapore youth decided to start a Meals on Wheels initiative. The programme run jointly with Swami Home, an elder care facility, distributes cooked meals to approximately 180 needy elderly residents in the area every alternate Sunday. Besides delivering food, the youth are also encouraged to interact with the elderly recipients and lend them a listening hear.  Nandini Pillay, a youth volunteer, says that while many of these elderly residents may be staying with their families, they don’t have anyone to talk to. “The Seva is not so much about the food but about the way you talk to them and love you give them.”

YOUTH SATSANG, JANUARY 22

"The youth of Singapore met for a Youth Satsang on a beautiful Sunday morning at Sai Anandam to plan and prepare for Swami’s upcoming Divine Satsang with the youths on February 3, 2017. Swami had indicated that He wanted the focus of our session with Him to be on the Q&A segment, for the youths to ask Him anything that would clarify any uncertainties they had.