Dear All,

The following is from Pratik . . .  Sai Ram,

Vinesh

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Sai Ram People,
Last week a pretty amazing miracle happened to me which I want to share with all you guys...

I guess the whole miracle started unfolding on New Years Bhajan on 31/12/2003 at Mill Hill Sai centre. I had attended the bhajan and was thinking bout what I wanted to do for the New Year, where I want to go etc... I decided I wanted to do some sort of seva, preferably medically related but seva nonetheless.
After the bhajans, when everyone goes round wishing everyone else "happy new year", my mum introduced me to Urvi. Urvi works with Dr. Upadhay to organise medical camps around the world and had previously asked my mum if I was able to go on them. The camps were usually held in off peak seasons, during school/uni time and so I was unable to go. However, this camp to Malawi/Zimbabwe was being held during the Easter weekend and fell right in my two weeks holiday. This was great news and I told Urvi I would definitely like to take part. I put my name down and the left the rest upto the Boss to sort out.
It just happens that my final summer exams this year are a few weeks earlier than normal and that only gave me 4 weeks once I came back from the camp to study for them. I thought the risk was well worth taking though...I'll study hard once I get back ;)
February comes and I find out I'm going on the camp. Cool! I decide to ask my university if they would like to donate any instruments or restorative materials for this charitable cause. At this point in time I was thinking I'd be lucky if they give me a few kilos (4-5kg maximum). I asked around within my year and other years if this had been done before, but no one knew.
So I thought I'd give it a try...worse that can happen is they'll say no! I go to ask one of my supervisors and then get referred to another person and then to another person... By the end I was onto the 5th person who finally said "they'll see what they can do". In the meantime I'd heard bout this "Pandora's Box" as they called it, a cupboard full of hundreds of dental instruments of all sorts. This cupboard had mainly brand new instruments that the dental school had not used and had been sitting there for over 10 years!!
Finally I meet this guy called Gordon, who asks me how many instruments I want. I say, maybe about 2-3 dental kits...which comes to 30 individual instruments or so...fitting in with the estimated weight I had from before. Gordon then takes me to this cupboard and shows me all these instruments just lying there and tells me to come back in a week or two to take them. Suits me fine.
I go away and am thinking that if the dental school are not using those instruments..why can't I take them??!! Yeah, the idea is a bit far stretched but possible??
2 weeks late I go visit Gordon again and tell him that if all those instruments are not being used and have been lying there for years, then why can't I just take them all? He was a bit surprised but saw the logic behind it. After all it was all going to charity..not to set up my own dental practise...hmm...now that u mention it!! Gordon told me to come back in a few days and that's what I did. By now it was Tuesday of the last week of term and I really needed to pack these instruments in a box and send them to London by courier...as I had originally planned!
I go to see Gordon on Thursday with a large cardboard box to take whatever they would give me. Gordon saw the box and said, "Hoping to get that many are ya?!" Yeah, I was, but I didn't say anything. I got two people from Sterilisation to open the cupboard and then give me whatever they could.
Of each dental instrument...btw, there are hundreds of different ones, this cupboard had at least 50 of each one. The guy giving me the instruments takes a box of one of the instrument and asks me "how many do you want?"..to which I replied, "How many you want to keep?!"...
So, he decided to keep a few of each type but gave me the rest!!
Half an hour later, we are still packing the insturments..the box weighs at least 20kg...and there's still half the cupboard left!! WOW!!!
This was great news, but created 2 other problems!!
Firstly, how was I gonna get all this stuff to London?? By the end it would have weighed at least 30-40kg!
Secondly, I needed more boxes and tomorrow (Friday) I had a full day and no time to get any from somewhere!
I came home on Thursday nite and went onto MSN, where I met Vinesh (..what a coincidence..because Vinesh is never on MSN...not!!) I explain to Vinesh the whole problem and how its gonna cost at least £50 to get the instruments to London by courier. Vinesh, being himself, tells me to turn up at Easyjet on Sunday morning (the day I was due to fly home to London) with the excess 50kg!!..No way!
I was decided on sending it by courier but Vinesh told me that "Swami gave you the problem, Swami will provide the solution!". Fine, I decided to sleep on it that nite.
Thursday nite Vinesh has bhajans at his place in Dundee and Uncle Sree happened to come to bhajans that day. Just as he was leaving, for no reason, he decided to tell Vinesh he was going to London on Saturday by car!! Vinesh asks uncle if he has any space in the car...and uncle says he could squeeze in a box or two!! It was then decided that I would give uncle the boxes on Saturday! I didn't find this out till Friday nite at the youth study circle..but I certainly wasn't complaining either!
Friday morning, I turn up @ uni. I still need 2 boxes to pack the other half of the cupboard but don't have time to get any! I go in for my tutorial from 9-10am. 9.10 the teacher turns up, says we've covered everything that needs to be covered, so you can go for a tea break till 10am! Wicked! my chance to run out and get the boxes!!
Ahaa...but no! Swami has another surprise for me! As I leave the tutorial room, I see one of the nurses unpacking some stuff into another storage cupboard! Empty boxes!!..I go over and ask her if I could have two of the boxes, provided she doesn't need them. She says that they normally chuck them away and so she can easily save me two boxes!! Problem solved!! Effort by me..none!! Swami did it all!!
Friday afternoon I finish packing all the instruments that have give me..all three boxes are full...a massive 40kg of instruments. Harish comes to pick them up from the Dental School, and we take them to Omita's house for the study circle on Friday nite. There, I find out that my transport problem has been solved so omita and rajan help me to hand over the boxes to uncle on Saturday at some service station on the motorway
The final part of the miracle happened when I went to collect the boxes from uncle sree's relative house on Sunday evening! Whilst talking to uncle Sree, he says that he normally comes to London with his wife and two children for at least 2 weeks!!! Naturally, if you're going somewhere for that long, you car would be full of stuff, especially if you're coming all the way from Dundee. However, this time Uncle had only come for TWO DAYS and he had plenty of space for the boxes!! Amaazing la!
Guys, I know it's a long email and a long story but believe me...its nothing short of a miracle..
Now, there is >40kg of dental instruments to be donated to the medical camps instead of just a few kilos. This will build up dental kits for at least another 5-6 medical camps!..Also, there was no need to send the supplies by courier as Swami had arranged for uncle Sree to make a short trip to London!
Its 3pm (10/4/04) rite now as I finish writing this email, and I'll be leaving for Heathrow to go to the camp to Malawi in just half an hour and shall tell you all about it after the 19th!!
See you all soon, insah-allah!
Pratik :)

Article publié le Mardi 13 avril 2004.


CULTURE
Tamil New Year: fasting and feasting


The Mount Ory priest from Tanjauor. 
“We’ll all get up early and have a purifying bath. Then we’ll prepare
the offerings for the puja(prayers).” This is how the Muneesamy family
of Moka will start today in celebration of the Tamil New Year, Varusha
Pirappu. “We will also boil milk and let it overflow, as a sign of
prosperity and plenty. The same milk will be used for the offerings when
it will be cooked with rice and sugar,” says Yagadambhal. The whole
family will then go to their puja room and pray for health and
prosperity for the coming year and express their gratitude for the past
year with the offerings.

A family lunch with all their relatives will mark the festive day with
simplicity. “We mark our fast by eating only vegetables today,” she
says, “and prepare what is commonly called sept cari.” This is a mixture
of seven different ingredients: dholl and brinjal (sambar), potatoes,
green beans, pumpkin, spiced banana, grated cucumber with soured milk
(patchery) and a soup of tamarind and chillies (rasom).

Then, the dessert is sago cooked with nuts and raisins (payasom) eaten
with a crispy savoury wafer (apallam).

During the day they will also go to their temple in Mount Ory to pray.
Readings from the Pangangum (Tamil horoscope) mark the prayers at the
kovil in Mount Ory. The priest Sankoranarayanan Kurukkal, who came from
Tanjauor 15 years ago, explains that the coming year is named Darana,
meaning either ‘stand up’ or ‘be tied down’. Some of his predictions are
that “there will be catastrophes such as earthquakes in India, cyclones
in Mauritius and a lot of fires worldwide. Between July and September,
new illnesses will appear. But there will also be a lot of rain and
plantations will thrive. In the sector of education and music there will
be developments.”

The Tamil community in Mauritius was established as far back as 1729,
when according to some documents, the ship La Sirene came with Indians
from Pondichery in the Tamil Nadu state. In 1850, the Sinatambou family
built the first Tamil temple in Terre-Rouge. The Tamil community
continued to consolidate their culture by building more and more temples
across the island. The influence of Tamils can be seen in many aspects
of Mauritius, including the language, where words such as vinday are
used in Creole.

Nadia PEERUN


A view of the Mauritian Tamil New Year celebration. Please share in this
traditional knowledge as well. David lingiah

The next study circle will be held on Sunday the 18th
of April at Maryhill Community centre.

Time:  4-5 pm
Topic:  “Love my Uncertainty”

Quote from Swami relating to above topic:

You must have freedom not only from fear, but freedom
from hope and expectation. Trust in My wisdom: I do
not make mistakes. Love my uncertainty! For it is not
a mistake. It is My Intent and Will. Remember, nothing
happens without My Will. Be still. Do not want to
understand; do not ask to understand. Relinquish
understanding. Relinquish the imperative that demands
understanding.

To listen to Radio Sai Global Harmony over the
internet you can do the following:

1.Open "Windows Media Player" program

2.Go to the File Menu at the top and go to
"Open URL..."

3.Into the box type the following address exactly:

http://stream.radiosai.net:8000

4.Click on OK

I have seen this work on both Windows ME and Windows
XP.  It also works fine with a Dial up connection -
however if you have to pay per phone call and not a
fixed rate it could be expensive at peak times.

Perhaps it is still better to get a digital radio -
but this is one way of listening to radio sai if you
don't have one.

To find out the daily program go to the website
www.radiosai.org

Any questions about this e-mail me.

Sai Ram



 

An excellent Video cliping on swami. MUST SEE

http://www.srisathyasai.org.in/pages/Sai_Video.htm

JAI SAIRAM

Dear All,

Just a reminder about the Purity, Unity and Divinity
conference we are hosting in Glasgow on the 26th June.
The conference will be held at the Maryhill Community
Centre (upstairs from where the Glasgow group meet
weekly).

Kiran and Jiten Patel are coming from London to run
the day - some of you will know Jiten from the ISAP
course - and it promises to be a good day.

Please find the day's programme attached and I look
forward to seeing you all there.

Much love


Jeannie 

Purity, Unity & Divinity – a practical approach

26th June, 2004

Programme

 

 

09:30                Registration

 

10:00               Welcome

Jeannie Cranfield, Regional Spiritual Convenor, Scotland

 

10:05               Group Devotional Singing 

 

10:20               Soham Meditation                 

 

10.30               Spiritual Wing and the relevance of Purity, Unity & Divinity

Kiran Patel, National Spiritual Wing Convenor

 

10:40               Introduction to breakout topics

                        Jiten Patel, Coordinator, Sathya Sai Inner Self Awareness Programme

 

10:55               Breakout Discussion Groups

Topic 1 – Emotions, Desires, and Senses

 

11:30                Working Tea Break

 

11:45                Continue – Emotions, Desires and Senses

 

 

12.15               Feedback of key issues from breakout sessions

 

12.30                Lunch

 

13:30               Breakout Discussion Groups

Silence, mounam, Meditation on Breath, Soham, Meditation on Light, Jyothi

 

14:15                Lifestyle Transformation

 

15:00                Tea Break

 

15:30               Feedback of key issues from breakout sessions

           

16:00               Jyothi Meditation & Loka Samastha Prayer

 

16:30                Conference close

 

Dear All

This is a book recently written by a Sai devotee
dealing with addiction.  If you are interested in the
subject or are keen to work with people with
addictions or even if you know addicts who are open to
receiving help then you may like to check out this
website.

www.ultimatehigh.org.uk


Sai Ram

Jeannie






Dear All

This is a book recently written by a Sai devotee
dealing with addiction.  If you are interested in the
subject or are keen to work with people with
addictions or even if you know addicts who are open to
receiving help then you may like to check out this
website.

www.ultimatehigh.org.uk


Sai Ram

Jeannie

OM sai ram,
   Ram sir,  It would be great if you could offer me a lift.
Either Byres road (Safeway / hillhead tube station) or Great western road
or university Avenue ( glasgow univ main gate) is convenient for me.

Sairaam
  Anand

A N A N D    K R I S H N A N
************************************************
Post Graduate Research Student
Laser & Optical Systems Engineering Centre,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
James Watt Building, University of Glasgow,
Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom.
Ph   :+44(0) 141 330 6695 (direct)
Fax  :+44(0) 141 330 4358
Mob : 07887 877 821
email :a.krishnan@mech.gla.ac.uk
************************************************

Sai Ram

The next study circle for the Glasgow Sai Centre will
take place on Sunday 20 June from 4 – 5 pm at Maryhill
community centre.

Topic: Be Happy

Here are some words from Swami on the subject:

Q:  Swami said that it is man's duty to be happy.

Swami: Happiness is essential for God-realization.  It
is one of the major gates to divinity. It is not just
a fault if a person is not happy; it is one of the
most serious of all faults.  It is a barrier to
Realization.  Mostly, people are unhappy because of
worldly pursuits, attachments, enjoyments.  Too much
interested in the world.  To get free of this fault a
person has to be told of the seriousness of the fault.
He should realise that desire is never-ending, like
the waves of the sea.

(From Conversations with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba)

Other quotes from Swami:

“You cannot enjoy the sweet juice of sugarcane unless
it is crushed.  Likewise, gold has to be put in fire,
hammered and cut before it is made into a beautiful
jewel.  Similarly humanness will shine only when one
undergoes trial and tribulations.”

“Never give up in the face of adversities in life.
The pleasure is an interval between two pains.  Vyasa
said, Na Sukhath Labhyathe Sukham – happiness cannot
be gained from happiness.  Happiness results only when
you overcome difficulties, just as light has no value
in the absence of darkness.  Difficulties are part and
parcel of human existence.  So, take them in your
stride.”

“True happiness lies in the spirit of sacrifice.
Thyaga (sacrifice) is true Yoga.  Man today does not
cultivate Thyaga.   On the other hand, he seeks Bhoga
(pleasure) and thereby subjects himself to Roga
(disease).  When you develop the spirit of sacrifice,
you will be free from suffering.”

“The Lord of Puttaparthi will always protect you.  He
is the ocean of compassion.  Holding your hand, He
will take care of you.  He will never forsake you.
Recognise this truth.”

SaiRam Thenmalar,
We are glad to hear from you, and pray to Swami that your transition to life in
Scotland would be smooth when you arrive in September. The Sai Youth are very
active in Scotland, and are a great bunch of fun loving people. So please do
not hesitate to contact anyone of us when you get here. You will meet most 
people at the weekly bhajans at Maryhill Community Centre every Sunday. More
details when you arrive. You can stay in touch through this address, and I have
also added you to the Sai Youth Scotland mailing list so that you are kept upto
date.

Other contacts: Kris Veer, Glasgow Centre President
                kris_veer@hotmail.com

                Vinesh (from Malaysia and now at Dundee since time immemorial)
                vinesh@post1.com

Look forward to seeing you,

Love,
Parag

ps: Don't worry, this place is filled with Malaysians, our sister nation!!!

Sai Ram Everyone,
 
I found this website which contains links to hundreds of Swami related websites. It is: http://www.saibabalinks.org/
 
There are over 100 bhajan wesbites, many of them containing downloadable bhajans, talks by Proffesors etc.
 
One website I particulary liked is: http://www.sshvosc.org/Audio/
 
Sai Ram
 
Pratik
 

Sai Ram Guys,
 
Could all youth please email the bhajans they wish to sing to Parag at parag.agarwal@strath.ac.uk by Friday night.
 
A Ganesh, Guru and 3 English ones must be present..so if u wanna sing one of these..email him asap.
 
I'll see u all again in September...have a great summer, insah-allah!!
 
Pratik
 
 

Sai Ram

Just a reminder to those attending the conference on
Saturday that some of those coming locally from
Glasgow could be there early (about 8:30 am) to set up
so that everything is ready on time.

Om Sai Ram All,

Information as I've received . . .

A Sathya Sai Retreat for ALL - 20-22nd August 2004.

For more information, please look at

http://www.saiyouth.org.uk/retreat.htm

Love and in Sai Service,
Vinesh