Issue 156 - December 22, 2019
Inspirational Note ...
In 2017 a Satsang held in the divine presence in Singapore, a devotee seeks guidance on practising Help Ever, Hurt Never in our daily life.

Here is what Swami said:

You have taught us that ‘Work is Worship’ and ‘Duty is God’. At the same time, we also know that we should ‘Help Ever, Hurt Never’. Sometimes, whilst at work, we have to do certain things that hurt others. How can we know how to go about our duty and our work without hurting others?

Swami: Consider the example of a doctor. A patient comes in with a disease and shows it to the doctor. The doctor says, “I am going to give you an injection for your problem.” The patient says, “That injection is going to hurt. Don’t hurt me!” Does it make any sense? The doctor will say, “A little pain is necessary for your overall health.” If you have to undergo an operation where the doctor has to cut you open, that will also hurt you, but it is for your good; that pain is necessary.

If it is not done with the intention to help someone, but done only to prove your supremacy, your power or position over them, then it is absolutely wrong. Hurting someone sometimes or speaking in a way that is hard or stern, are ways to correct people. If that helps in correcting them, because you have done it out of love, there is no harm. Even I do so. Narasimha Murthy is over there. Over the past 50 years, he has gotten at least 50,000 scoldings, but he has not run away because he knows that Swami is doing it out of motherly love for him, to correct him when he is going wrong, to guide him when he is faltering. Therefore, Swami is doing it out of love.

Love is the basis. If you feel that prema inside, then whatever you utter will also be soaked with the same love. Medicine may be bitter, but you may sugar-coat it – that is what doctors do. When children will not take their medicine, what do mothers do? They put the medicine in a little bit of honey and put it on the tongue of the child. Calling it honey, the medicine also gets ingested. The same way, modulate your voice and actions but do not modulate your feelings. Actions and words can be adjusted to help someone person understand that he or she is going wrong and has to be corrected. However, if you stop loving the person, you have lost the right to correct them and whatever you say is only hurtful. If you truly love them and you want only good for them, even if you have to take the blame yourself, you can do so for their sake and their benefit. You should proceed like that.
Service Updates
Seva Activities By Brazilian Youth
December 2019
Ever since Swami’s last visit to Brazil, Narayana Seva is the main activity done by the youth. They are currently serving food in four States: São Paulo, Rio de Janerio, Brasília and Pernambuco. One of the youth is serving as a psychologist, helping underprivileged children and youth with counseling in a free education school in the State of Minas Gerais. His report on his transformation through service has been included below.
Canadian Newsletter December Edition 2019
The youth offer their prayerful pranams to their loving Lord! December is a month when the temperatures go to freezing points in some parts of Canada, but it did not stop the youths from serving the homeless in the cold weather.
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The youths of Toronto, Ontario did food packets consisting of Hummus sandwiches, fruit bars, protein bars, dark chocolate, hot chocolate mix, and reusable coffee cups with lids. They visited the senior centre and conducted activation exercises which delighted the seniors!
Unity in Diversity at Work
On Saturday, December 14, 2019, the Seva group of Chihuahua united with two other groups for this year’s Christmas Posada Party. It was a true labour of love from three totally diverse groups: the Catholic Colegio Chihuahua, the volunteers from La Gran Victoria Evangelical Church and devotees of Sathya Sai Baba.
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Over 250 people from the Vistas del Cerro Grande community, composed of mostly Tarahumara Indians, arrived to celebrate.
Seva in the Bay Area, California
The youth of Fremont, along with children, met once again on a third Sunday; December 15, 2019, to prepare sandwiches and serve it to homeless people and shelters in Oakland, California.
 
The youth and children prepared 155 sandwiches to be served across three different homeless shelters and also homeless brothers and sisters on the streets of Oakland. Each meal consisted of a vegetable or peanut butter-jelly sandwich, a banana and an orange.
Huntsville, Alabama Seva for
Lower-Income Individuals
December 18, 2019
Bhagawan has advised that when one feels the urge to do something that one’s mind indicates, one ought to forego, one should pause before acting. On the other hand, if one is moved by one’s Conscience or His Spirit to do something good for someone else, one should not hesitate. He will provide countless opportunities to put this principle into practice and with time, one can recognize the signs and act accordingly. Today, Bhagawan provided one such opportunity to a Sai young adult to ‘Be Alert / Be Aware’ of His presence among His flock at the Manna House in Huntsville, Alabama.
Feed the Need Seva in Houston, Texas
On December 1, 2019, the Houston youth assembled for their monthly service activity - Feed the Need - with the mind-set of becoming less selfish and more selfless, as that is the way to the Divine. This month they prepared with love 108 lunch bags to hand out to the needy in various parts of the city. The lunch bags contained Tofurkey sandwiches made of vegetarian tofu slices, mustard and mayonnaise, pickles, a snack, and a water bottle.
Transformation
Transformation Through Service
Rafael Coimbra from Minas Gerais

I have been doing Seva offering psychological care to underprivileged children and youth from a (free) State school here in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. I am a psychologist and I went to this school near my residence to find out if there was a demand for food support for the school children.
Rodrigo Deodato from Pernambuco

I am Rodrigo Deodato, also known as Ganesha - name given by Swami during His Divine Visit to Brazil in 2018, and I coordinate the group of Narayana Seva, in Recife, Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil. By being in one of the poorest regions in the country, the work of Narayana Seva...