Sathya Sai Baba Centre of Subang Jaya

Voice of Sai Issue No. 35 April 2009 Sathya Sai Baba Centre of Subang Jaya Quarterly Newsletter (For members only) Politics without principles, Education without character, Science without humanity, and Commerce without morality are not only useless, but positively dangerous. -Baba

Table of Contents Chairman s Message 02 Past and Forthcoming 05 Service activities 06 Hospital Visit- a personal account 07 Maran Temple visit 08 SSEHV Gurus Workshop 08 Saving mother nature 09 Talk on Gayatri Mantra 10 Dr Goldstein s visit 12 Technical appreciation of Sai youths 14 Chairman s Message Bro. Dorai Sairam dear brothers and sisters. As we get into the second quarter of 2009, we should revisit the Sai Care Program. This program was launched by the Malaysian Sai Council and involves the implementation of service, human values, spiritual and youth projects over the next two years as our offering for Humanity and Nation Building in conjunction with Bhagavan s 85 th birthday. The program will also focus on two important aspects. There are:- Integration : The programs offered should be taken as an opportunity to build bridges with others outside the organisation, thereby enabling our Sai Centers to blend and integrate within the community. Internalization : To dwell on the inner significance of the projects, and the transformational experiences one will have while engaging in these noble programs. The SAI CARE Program Period is between 1 st September, 2008 to 31 st Aug, 2010. We have listed below the projects and the respective targets we have set for our Centre, as well as the persons who will drive them. Besides these, there are several other projects which will be driven at State or National level, which we will also participate in. A. SPIRITUAL PROJECTS NO DESCRIPTION OF PROJECTS OBJECTIVES 1 Gayatri recitations and prayers. Plan to achieve 500,000 chants. Coordinators: Bro S.K.Vathanan Sis Valli 2 Stress Management through Meditation Bro Reddy To create awareness of the power of prayer and to pray for world peace. To create awareness on the benefits and practice of meditation. 2

3 Journey to Sai Bro Reddy To encourage devotees to conduct a self evaluation and monitoring exercise on spiritual development. Organise a pilgrimage trip to Puttaparthi in conjunction with Baba s 85 th Birthday. B. SOCIOCARE PROJECTS NO DESCRIPTION OF PROJECTS OBJECTIVES 1 ADOPTION OF POOR COMMUNITIES/VILLAGES Bro Raman 2 School Breakfast program for poor students for 4 schools. Bro Maniam 3 Adoption of Poor Families Bro Raman To provide relief and economic, social, health and educational support to hardcore poor in selected villages or slum areas. In addition, healthy and wholesome activities will be promoted among the young children and youth to create unity and harmony in families. To improve the health of poor primary students by providing free nutritious breakfast. To provide relief in the form of economic, social and education support to hardcore poor families. C. MEDICARE PROJECTS 1 Surgery assistance for needy patients Bro Raman 2. General Health Screening & Medical Awareness Camps. Bro Raman 3. Blood Donation Campaigns Bro Raman 4. Organ Donation Drives Bro Raman To assist the hardcore poor who need referrals and support to undergo surgery. To provide free general medical screening and basic medical needs and if needed, recommendations for follow up with consulting specialists, for surgery, etc., to poor families and individual who normally do not undertake routine medical screening. To encourage everyone who is fit to donate blood as liquid love to save lives. At the same time, to create awareness on the benefit of donating blood. To encourage voluntary pledging of organs as a service to mankind. 3

D. EDUCARE PROJECTS NO DESCRIPTION OF PROJECTS OBJECTIVES 1 a) National Human Values Story Telling Competition State level 4 programs Coordinators: Sis Anjali Bro Murali b) National Inter-School Human Values Drama Competition Bro Dr. Murali Raman c) Walk For Values Bro Jaidev 2 S.T.A.R. (Student Training In Attitude & Responsibility) Bro Jaidev To promote and project Human Values among school children (7-9 years old) through Story Telling Competitions To instill Human Values in the hearts of school children, promote unity and harmony between them, learn healthy lifestyle and reject undesirable activities. To increase the awareness and the importance of Human Values through fun based Walk activities amongst the general public including children, teenagers, youth and adults. It will also serve as a catalyst in community building. To assist weak and wayward students to develop positive attitudes, a sense of responsibility, confidence in themselves and for them to excel academically through a well planned weekly program for an extended period of time. E. ENVIRONCARE PROJECTS No Description of Projects Coordinator 1 Tree Planting Program Coordinators: Bro Suresh To create a better environment to live in through educating children and adults on the importance and benefits of trees, the actual planting and care of trees. Everyone is welcome to support us and participate in these projects. You can help by: - identifying hard core poor who need home repair, food supply, mobility aids and medical treatment - identifying stray animals for vaccination and rehabilitation - participating or assisting the Organizers in Educare projects, Blood Donation Campaigns, Organ Donation pledges and Tree Planting projects Bhagawan s purpose and mission is to bring about our transformation. Let us use the Sai Care program to do this. Participate in all the planned events and activities. At the same time encourage your friends to do so too. Contact the various Project Coordinators for further information. A Small Step you take today can make a big difference tomorrow. Sairam. Bro Dorai Narayana 4

Past and Forthcoming Regular Activities Bhajans: every Thursday, 7.30 pm Gita Class: every Friday, 8 pm Veda Class : every Monday, 8 pm Temple Visit: every Saturday, 7 am, Perumal Temple, Subang Jaya Study Circle: every 3 rd Thursday, after Bhajans Hospital Visit: every 2 nd Saturday, 4.30 pm, Klang GH Bhajan Practice: first & third Sunday, 5 pm Morning prayer: every 3 rd Sunday, 5.30 am Gayatri Chanting: every 1 st Sunday, 7 pm & 3 rd Sunday, 5.30 am Centre exercise session: every 4 th Sunday, 6.30 pm (venue to be announced) Batu Ampat Ladies program: every 2 nd & 4 th Sunday, 2.30 pm Bal Vikas / EHV Classes: at various locations Forthcoming Events 3 Apr Sri Rama Navami 14 Apr Tamil New Year (Centre will celebrate on 16 Apr) 6 May Eswaramma Day 9 May Buddha Poornima There is a creator behind this enchanting cosmos. He is Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent. He is worshiped as God using many names and in many forms by various people. Unity, brotherhood and devotion are essential for every human being. To promote these sacred qualities in mankind, some great souls sought to establish different religions. Religion is not a restrictive concept. Religion is intended to develop the human personality and indicate the basic guidelines for right living. Religion brings out the humanness in man and enables him to live in harmony with his fellow men. It provides the link between the individual and the Divine. It demonstrates the unity that underlies the diversity in creation. - BABA You are seeking joy and peace in far-off places. But the spring of joy is in your heart. The haven of peace is in yourself. - Baba 5

Service activities Our Centre has been carrying out various service activities to help the less fortunate, while these activities also help to instil love and care in devotees hearts. All devotees should try to involve themselves in service activities. Try it once, and you will realise the joy and love that is generated. Here are some of the service activities that are being carried out. Contact Bro Raman (012 677 0505) for more details. TYPE OF SERVICE PLACE SERVICE RENDERED 1 HOSPITAL VISIT Every 2 nd Saturday, 4.30 pm Klang General Hospital Visit patients, talk to them and pray for their speedy recovery 2 BREAKFAST PROGRAM FOR EHV STUDENTS Various schools Helping to serve breakfast for poor children 3 FOOD FOR THE NEEDY Batu Empat Klang, Klang and Sg.Rotan. Supply of dry rations on weekly and monthly basis. 4 FAMILY ADOPTION PROGRAM (19 families being assisted) Batu Ampat Klang & Sg.Rotan, Kapar Supply of dry rations and frequently visit their homes. Consider other needs. Beds, mattresses, rice cooker, kitchen cabinet & kitchen wares. 5 EDUCATIONAL NEEDS Batu Empat, Kg.Jawa Klang and Sg.Rotan, Kapar Supply of school uniform, shoes, bags, initial school fees, exercise books 6 HOME FOR THE NEEDY Batu Ampat Klang Home rental assistance for 2 needy families. 7 CLOTHING FOR THE NEEDY Batu Ampat, Kg.Sentosa, Kg.Bengalli, Klang & Bukit Rotan Donation of new and used clothings one to needy families 6

Hospital Visit: A personal account (Bro. Vikram) I would like to thank God for this opportunity. When I see patients, I see them as my own family. I get to know them better and meet their family members. When I pray for their quick recovery, some patients are moved, and some even shed tears. Our hospital visit starts with a small prayer at the entrance. Thereafter, we visit the general ward, the children's ward and the orthopaedic ward at the Klang General Hospital. We try and visit every patient and pray for their speedy recovery. We take down their names and chant the Gayathri mantra at their bedside. You may have noticed that we also pray for these patients by chanting the Samastha Loka Sugino Bhavanthu mantra in the Centre after bhajans. For patients who were seriously ill and in need of Swami's grace, we give them Swami's photo and some vibuthi. The objective of me doing this is to share my love with patients. Some of these patients have nobody to visit them. They are in loneliness and want someone to talk to. Some patients were, however, shocked when they see us. They asked us who we were, why we visit them and why were we praying for them. It gives me great pleasure explaining to them that we are doing this as part of our service at no cost. I explain to them that this is not a religious movement and we are not in the business of conversion or recruiting people for our organisation. Our aim is to pray that they get well and return to their families soon. Our visit gives the patients a chance to reconnect with God. Many of them have head of Swami some years ago, but have lost touch and were surprised to "meet" Swami again. Some patients will become emotional and begin crying that God has not helped them in any way despite they being vegetarian, taking kavadis and praying regularly. They ask, why does God do this and not protect them at all cost. We say that whatever happens, it is for our owngood. It gives them a chance to reestablish their devotion for Swami and get back to their usual livelihood. Our prayers are well accepted amongst all races. I visit the hospital every third Saturday of the month. The visits are coordinated by Bro Raman. On festive occasions such as Deepavali, Chinese New Year, Christmas and Hari Raya and also during Swami's Birthday last year, special visits were organised where we presented patients with a fruit basket and some toiletries. The patients and their families really appreciated our little gifts of love. A handful of devotees attend these visits regularly. However, I feel these visits should be increased to twice a month. We have to go on a bigger scale and get more youths involved. The visits provide me with an opportunity to bond with these families. It is not just about giving money. It is about sharing my love with these families and I know Swami's blessings will reach the patients and their families directly. Who knows, hospital visits could also serve as a platform to identify poor families in need of Swami's grace, especially dry rations? 7

(Sis Mani) Maran Temple Visit At the last coordinators meeting, Bro Maniam said, Why don t we visit the Maran temple. Every one thought it was a good idea. So we decided to go on the 31 st January. We chartered a 44 seater bus for our devotees to travel to Maran. We left at 6.30am after a short 15 minute bhajan at the Centre, and reached the Temple around 11.30 am. Sis Sindhu, now a local resident of Pahang, gave a short talk on the history and significance of the temple. She told us how nearly 120 years ago, the British were building a road from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan, and many trees were cut down to make way for the road. When one particular rudraksha tree was cut, it began to bleed as if it was wounded and a Tamil worker went on trance at the same time. The British supervisor refused to stop cutting the tree. Suddenly a child miraculously appeared on the trunk of the tree for a second and disappeared into this mysterious tree. The British supervisor was overcome with amazement and changed his decision to cut down the tree. An old man who believed that the child appeared on the tree was Lord Muruga, planted a Vel at the base of the tree. That was how the temple came to be named as Marathandavar Temple. Maram means tree in Tamil. During the years, many miracles happened at this tree. Many devotees come from all parts of Malaysia and even other neighboring countries. Pannguni Uttiram which occurs in the month of March / April is celebrated elaborately in this temple. We had the opportunity to witness the noon Abishegam at the Temple, and we had lunch after that. The temple provides breakfast, lunch and dinner for all visiting devotees. We left the Temple at about 3 pm and reached Subang Jaya by 6.30pm. The trip gave the devotees a unique chance to not only visit the famous Maran Temple, but also created a bonding and satsang opportunity as well. SSEHV Gurus Training / Workshop (Sis. Anjali) For continuous learning and improvement, workshops and training programs are conducted by the Central Council for gurus and aspiring gurus several times a year. Further to the above, a workshop was held on the 3 rd and 4 th of January 2009 at the SSB Centre of SS3. It was well received with about 80 participants. 3 Gurus from our centre namely Bro Jaidev, Bro Dorai and I participated and presented lesson plans. Similarly the participants from various centres of the Central Region presented their lesson plans. It was a very good sharing session which enabled us to observe and pick up many salient points. To keep the participants engrossed in the sessions, the presentations were given in many creative ways inclusive of video clips, games, etc. It was a programme worth attending as it created an opportunity for us to evaluate and improve our teaching methods. All gurus and aspiring gurus are advised not to miss the golden opportunity of attending future workshops. Jai Sai Ram 8

Saving Mother Nature: Tree-planting Despite knowing that it is Saturday morning, I was wondering why I had to wake up so early. It can t be the Bhajan practice because it has been moved to Sunday evenings. The PDA shows 21 st March. Well, it took few seconds for me realize that I was supposed to plant trees on that day. I quickly drove to SS3 centre, the meeting point for the environmental aspirants. I was asked to join another friend in his MPV. This is when Bro. Vathanan wanted to transfer some things into the MPV and for a moment I thought I was going to plant trees inside his car because it just looked like some forest. Continued on page13 9

Talk on Gayathri Mantra As the chanting of the Gayatri Mantra has been taking centre stage of late, a talk was organized on Thursday, 19 th March 2009 for the devotees of the SSBC of Subang Jaya and to all those interested in the Central Region. The purpose of the talk was to enlighten the devotees on the following: On the proper pronunciation/recitation of the Mantra To understand the meaning of the Mantra To understand the history of the Mantra To understand the benefits of chanting the Mantra Bro Muthu, the VP of Spiritual of the Central Council was invited to present the talk. The devotees of the SSBC of Subang Jaya are very grateful to Bro Muthu for his love and a very informative session which was very keenly participated by all presented. Brother Muthu started thanking Swami for this opportunity to share the Gayatri Mantra and introduced the significance of the Mantra and also dwelt on the meaning and the mysterious power of the Mantra when chanted properly. He emphasised that reciting the Gayatri is a sacred and auspicious spiritual exercise and that the Gayatri can be chanted for all occasions (religious, spiritual, holy and social functions such as birth, death, wedding and blessing) and that the Gayatri in a universal prayer that can be chanted by all people regardless of race, religion, caste and gender. Bro Muthu iterated that the Gayatri is a simple and sincere prayer to the Almighty to confer bright and brilliant intelligence. However he stressed that the potency of the Gayatri is in its sound and phonetic vibrations. Thus the correct pronunciation is of paramount importance and that wrong pronunciation will cancel its effects, benefits and desired results. All present were advised to repeat shanti thrice at the end of each recitation, to have peace within the three entities of body, mind and soul. Although the Gayatri can be chanted at any time the devotees were advised not to forget to repeat the Gayatri in multiples of three at dawn, noon and dusk. Some of the benefits of chanting the Gayatri are listed below: Gayatri is the reliever of all diseases Gayatri wards off all miseries Gayatri is the fulfiller of all desires Gayatri destroys dirty influence of demonic forces. Gayatri is the Mother Annapurna, the force that animates all life. Gayatri promotes the acquisition of divine power and develops the power of discrimination. A brief explanation on the Gayatri was given as follows: Gayatri Mantra consists of three parts namely: praise, meditation and prayer. 10

She has three names: Gayatri represents the senses (Panchendrias) Savitri represents life-force (Praana Shakthi) Saraswati represents speech (Vaak) The three represent purity in thought, word and deed (Tri-karana Shudhi). Bro Muthu also touched on the five faces of Mother Gayatri as follows: The five faces listed below are from Mother Gayatri s far right to her far left. First (Pearl in colour) face: represents brilliance of intelligence Second (Coral in colour) face: represents the principle of still mind Third (Gold in colour) face: represents good quality and external charm in the aspirant Forth (Blue in colour) face: fosters the aspirant with all types of wealth and Divine Grace Fifth (White in colour) face: represents purity of mind and receiving Divine Grace from Goddess Saraswati The meaning of the individual words in the Gayatri Mantra is appended below: AUM - Sound as the basis of creation, Brahmam BHUR The earth, the gross, Prakriti or nature BHUVAH The atmosphere, the subtle, Prana Shakthi SUVAHA Heaven, the land of God, the causal TAT Paramatma, God or Brahman, (defies description) SAVITUR That from which all this is born, vivifying power contained within the sun VARENYAM Fit to be worshipped BHARGO Radiance, Spiritual effulgence that bestows wisdom DEVASYA Divine Reality DHEEMAHI We meditate DHIYO Buddhi, Intellect YO Which NAH Our PRACHODAYAT Enlighten The session ended with questions and answers, which were also very interesting and enlightening. Once again we would like to thank Bro Muthu for his effort to prepare and make the wonderful presentation and we would also like to thank Swami for His Grace to allow it all to happen. Thank you, Bro G.Reddy Spiritual Coordinator 11

Bro. Dr. Michael Goldstein s visit to Malaysia Dr. Michael Goldstein, International Chairman of Prashanti Council, as part of his worldwide tour to visit the Sai Organisations in various countries, visited Malaysia to meet and address all Sai devotees from the 13 th of February 2009 to the 16 th of February 2009. Dr Goldstein is an ardent and close devotee of Bhagawan Baba. He has had many unique and inspiring experiences with Bhagawan Baba. Indeed Bhagawan had on a number of occasions publicly praised Dr Goldstein for his devotion, dedication, discipline as well as his faith in Swami. Dr. Goldstein is in charge of the all the overseas Sai Organizations. He arrived on the 13 th of February 2009 and had a get together dinner with the EXCO of the Central Council. It was indeed a very inspiring event and an opportunity to get to know Dr. Goldstein. He was equally impressed with the EXCO and the spiritual/service activities in Malaysia. A public talk was held on the 14 th of February 2009 which was held at the KBU International College, Bandar Utama. Devotees from all over Malaysia had taken the trouble to attend the talk by Bro Dr. Goldstein. The hall was filled to the brim and all those present were indeed blessed to have had the opportunity to listen to the inspiring talk by Dr. Goldstein. He covered a wide spectrum of the subjects related to the Sai Organisation as well his experiences with the Divine. At the end of his talk he spent considerable amount of time answering questions raised by devotees. On the following morning, Sunday, 15 th February, Dr. Goldstein spent the entire morning with members of the Sai Council. The structure of the Council, representations from the entire country, service, spiritual and educational activities carried out in Malaysia under the banner of the Sathya Sai Organisation were presented to Dr. Goldstein. He answered many questions related to the organizational structure, publications, Sai School, cross border activities, performances in front of Swami at Prashanti, Centre activities, unity, disaster management team etc. 12

Bro Goldstein concluded the session by thanking all those who had made the session possible. He was very happy with what he had seen and he felt that what was being done particularly under the Sai Care program was wonderful and an attestation to the faith and earnestness of the Malaysian Sai Devotees. Bro Dr. Goldstein left Malaysia to Sri Lanka on Monday the 16 th of February 2009. He reiterated on several occasions to the EXCO that he was extremely pleased with the unity that he had observed and with the SAI work that is being carried out in Malaysia. Saving Mother Nature: Tree-planting Continued from page 9: Then, we had a speedy drive to North Selangor Peat Forest, the car filled with Shanu Perunding staff, equipped with bags of homemade food and an entertainer next to me. We immediately got into our gear and registered ourselves, where fellow Sai environment-care devotees from various centers joined us. Of course there were lots of other individuals and groups from various corporate sectors. After a short briefing by the coordinator (I guess he was the coordinator, because he was in green attire) we started to put our thoughts into action. We were allocated a sector to plant the seedlings and we begin the task by digging holes in the soggy soil. It was fun ; we were laughing at each other, teasing the amateur hole-diggers. As we were about to leave the sector after completing the Sector C mission, another coordinator (I think she was one too, because she was also in green attire) requested us to complete Sector D. With initial hesitation, we formed a team to get the job done. Anyway, that s why I volunteered myself. After 30 minutes, I came out from Sector D with lots of contentment and scratches. As we were walking out, I had a lengthy and informative chat with Unc. Prathaban on treeplanting methods, which I am planning to introduce soon to our Sai Center.It was a fun-filled and informative event, yet very enlightening and very satisfying too. A tree-ful day indeed. 13

A Technical Appreciation of Sai Youths Bro. Dr. Murali Raman Sai youths are increasingly plagued with numerous challenges. Parental pressure, organizational pressure, family commitments, societal pressure, peer pressure and the list goes on. How can Sai youth sustain the proper momentum to survive the various challenges of modern day living? How can Sai youth the Saiber youths manifest themselves into tangible outputs that demonstrate higher order thinking and above all, a value driven lifestyle? Well, the answer pretty much lies in the extent of input quality i.e. quality of the various datasets (vibrations, energy, value ingredients and so on), that goes into the basic processing structure of a youth. The human system is based on the five organs of senses/actions and 5 perceptions that process the various inputs that come into our living system. Let us focus for the moment on the five organs of senses, and transpose these five core elements with the notion of input structures of a computing system. First, take the eye the eye is a fundamental input recipient it is a very powerful organ that immediately interprets the various images that it comes into contact with. Swami in this regard often states; See only that is noble, and only See Good in one and all. This also means that what we interpret as an output based on what we see (in input form), is a function of what we already know/perceive internally. Again, in this regard, Swami states You is see is s reflection and resound of your own taught. Therefore youths, Look only at Good things, Godly things and cultivate a Dharmic vision A Vision of the Divine in all, and be assured that all other input systems will function and interpret things well. Next, let s examine how what we take in the form of sound and taste (input processes the ears, and tongue). Wake up to melodious music, music that helps us calm the mind and take in positive vibrations and energy into our system. Swami often relates this to the idea of listening to good things (including positive vibrations) and avoiding ourselves from openly engaging in negative talk and discussion which will obviously dilute the quality of the input structures that becomes part of our mainstream system. The tongue is akin to a double edged sword- on one had this input processor takes in wonderful taste of food (nasi lemak vegetarian surely, milo ice and such), and empowers us to enjoy natures endowment of good food and nourishment. The same tongue however, when untapped and uncontrolled, has the potential to unleash malicious words and intent often more powerful than the weapons of massive destruction. In this context, Swami says, speak of only loving things and speak when you are spoken to. Satvic food as vital inputs via the sense of taste will also guarantee a much more balanced lifestyle hence Swami propagates the ideals of vegetarianism. Our sense of smell should also crave and long for Satvic fragrance solely. This is why we often see Hindus and even Chinese using significant amount of incense sticks in their homes. Lastly lets us examine our organs of action (hands and legs). These are two vital organs that when and if used well, can even bring the other organs of input into check. This is when engaging in positive activities such as Seva is vital and hence Swami s call: Hands that Serve are Holier than Lips that Pray. So youths, let us all use the various input organs that we have to only take in positive inputs into our lives. Let us pray that Swami will guide us, in making best use of our input systems, processes, and whatever we take into this system well, and thereby translate the our outputs into positive outcomes. 14