General Announcements
SWAMI’S 96TH BIRTHDAY OFFERING:
1) For Swami’s 96th birthday we as Raleigh Sai Center would be offering self transformation individually to Swami. Every individual can select an initiative from the link provided below under “Transformation Ideas” or come up with their own and transform themselves. Aspiring devotees can write a letter about their progress to Swami and provide it in a sealed envelope by November 4th (collection details to be shared later). Center will help collect and mail it to Prasanthi Nilayam by Swami’s birthday.2) We are looking for volunteers to support the offering of individual transformation to beloved Swami as Swami’s 96th birthday gift. Interested members please Email: vp@raleighsaicenter.org3) Kindly visit below link and please add more transformation ideas from day to day challenges to help each other: Transformation IdeasSTUDY CIRCLE:
Next session on September 23rd @ 6PM EST: “Transformation by SAI” by our Sai Brother Ravi Mariwalla
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
87245502543?pwd= ZjRYTWFRMm9CMnMyWXViS2QrSWE0QT 09 Meeting ID: 872 4550 2543
Passcode: Sairam108
CARY TREE ARCHIVE FROM GROUP 4 SSSE
A group of students from group 4 will be planting 2 native trees on Saturday September 25 th morning, in the Cary Tree Archive section along the White Oak Greenway in Cary, close to the Taylor YMCA. Planting of these Trees is the culmination of Group 3 & 4 volunteer work at this place through the summer months.
We will have 4”x6” plaques with the following words, ”LOVE ALL, SERVE ALL – Sri Sathya Sai Baba “ and “ HELP EVER, HURT NEVER – Sri Sathya Sai Baba” one plaque in front of each tree. Please enjoy this area with your family
Service Opportunities:Sept 26th – Fresh fruit brown bag service to support Cumberland county council of older adults (Signup available!):Monthly Fresh fruit brown bag service contains apples, oranges, pears and canned fruit to support Cumberland county council of older adults in Fayetteville. For the month of September we plan to deliver on Sept. 26th. Please drop off items at 719 McRae Rd, Cary on Sept. 26th by 12pm.Click here to signup for September Fresh fruit brown bag service.Raleigh Sai Center NO in person meetingsPlease note there will be no in person meeting till Sep, 30th 2021. As you are aware, we are seeing increasing COVID cases in this area and in the U.S. We have decided to switch to virtual bhajans for the coming two weeks. We want to ensure the safety of our center members. Next week, we will look at the emerging data and get recommendations from our center doctors to decide if we want to meet in person or continue with virtual sessions for some time.
Virtual Bhajans will continue to be on Thursday evenings. We will send out the Zoom call information soon for the upcoming Thursday session. We will have the Study Circle from 6:00 to 7:00 PM followed by bhajans.RSC Library:- The Vahinis Online, written by Sri Sathya Sai Baba
- See list of books available. If you would like to borrow a book, please contact Prabhakar at hpkamath11@gmail.com or text 919-561-3465, listing the name(s) of the Book(s) interested in borrowing and the time and date you would like to pick up. Address: 1961 Weaver Forest Way, Morrisville. Anyone wishing to return a currently borrowed book, can drop off the book at the front door box. Please write your full name on a piece paper and put it in back of the book. Sairam!
Power of Prayer
It is good to remember Swami’s guidance to remain calm in all situations. We need to follow the guidance of our national and local medical and infectious disease experts. We should remember that prayers are very powerful. The Sai Gayatri mantra as well as the Gayatri mantra is being chanted by Sai devotees around the world for the welfare of humanity. Let us all be united and pray with intensity as often as possible. This is an important spiritual practice which can alleviate this global health threat due to the Coronavirus.
Devotion
- Sai Center Activities ScheduleRecurrent Programs
- Thursdays at 6 p.m. ET – RSC Study Circle (Next Session on 9/23: “Transformation by SAI”) Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87245502543?pwd=ZjRYTWFRMm9CMnMyWXViS2QrSWE0QT09
- RSC Bhajans On Thursday Evenings at 7:00PM; Next Session on September 23(Virtual) :
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87245502543?pwd=ZjRYTWFRMm9CMnMyWXViS2QrSWE0QT09
- Sundays at 6 pm ET – Region 3 monthly virtual devotional program at www.sairegion3youtube.org
- Study Circle
Sairam,
Next session on September 23rd @ 6PM EST: “Transformation by SAI” by our Sai Brother Ravi Mariwalla
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
87245502543?pwd= ZjRYTWFRMm9CMnMyWXViS2QrSWE0QT 09 Meeting ID: 872 4550 2543
Passcode: Sairam108
- Bhajan of the week
Deity: Krishna
Raag~ Gowri Manohari / PatdeepTaal: 8 Beat / Keherwa / Adi
Lyrics:
Krishna O Krishna Mujhey Darshan Do KrishnaKrishna Sai Krishna Mujhey Darshan Do KrishnaGiridhari Murari Krishna Ghana Shyama Murari KrishnaSri Krishna Krishna Krishna Ghana Shyama Murari KrishnaAb Aajaavo Krishna Mujhey Darshan Do KrishnaMeaning:Hey Krishna! Please grant Your Divine vision (darshan) to me. O blue-complexioned Lord Krishna, the Destroyer of the demon Mura, You lifted the mountain and enchanted everyone with Your Flute music. O Lord Sathya Sai, You are my beloved Lord Krishna, please listen to my heart’s yearnings. Come O Krishna, please come now and grant me Your darshan; I am longing for Your Divine Presence.Video Link:
https://youtu.be/Nkmmbg7xWh0
Service
- RSC Service ActivitiesNEW ANNOUNCEMENT! :Sai Disaster Relief Team (SDRT) Volunteer Skills Form :
Sai Ram Everyone …
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba initiated the disaster relief efforts in India in late 1970s. He had the Sai Seva Dal volunteers undergo rigorous training in disaster relief management so that they can reach out, comfort and help the victims.
SSSGC is in the process of establishing the Disaster Response Team where the Sai volunteers seek out the victims of the catastrophic disasters all around the globe and render assistance to them selflessly with pure love.
Hence, in our efforts to enroll volunteers for the Sai Disaster Relief Team (SDRT), we have designed the Skills Form mentioned in the following link:
https://forms.gle/
yXF5Lh24U8DKC5CZ9 If you are motivated to join the Disaster Relief Team (DRT), please fill out the Volunteers skills forms as this will help us with regards to training and disaster response deployment.
If you have any Disaster Relief related questions or need clarification, please feel free to contact Rajen Ghayal (Email: righayal@gmail.com) or (Cell #: 1-732-551-6349)
To participate in active service projects, please see list below.
Service name and Date/time Service Activity Details Locations & Sign up IFC Sunday Food Service (Every alternate Sunday) Preparing Dinner at Volunteer homes & Dropping it off at Inter-Faith Council for Social Service(IFC) at Carrboro, NC by 1 PM IFC address: 100 W. Main St. Carrboro, NC
Please click here to sign up for Sunday.
IFC Thursday Food Service (Every Thursday) Preparing Dinner at Volunteer homes & Dropping it off at Inter-Faith Council for Social Service(IFC) at Carrboro, NC by 3 PM. IFC address: 100 W. Main St. Carrboro, NC
Please click here to sign up for Thursday.
Growing Sai’s Love – Garden project
RSC’s pilot program Growing Sai’s Love to help our Sai Community members get more self-reliant by learning to grow their own fresh, healthy vegetables, fruits, flowers, in their backyard. Members can also use these for service and center activities. NOTE: Please contact service coordinator service@raleighsaicenter.org if you would like to participate in this service.
Raleigh Men’s shelter Breakfast service – Supplies
Monthly Breakfast service on 3rd Saturday to support Raleigh Men’s Shelter. Please drop off items at 719 McRae Rd, Cary on 3rd Friday of the month by 8pm so volunteers can deliver supplies at the shelter on Saturday morning. NOTE: Due to COVID, at this time we are only supplying materials/ingredients.
Recycling project
Recycling project that involves used batteries, medication(s), small electronics and bulbs. NOTE: Please contact service coordinator service@raleighsaicenter.org if you would like to participate in this service. Pediatric Clinic Food Distribution Project
This weekly project involves distributing grocery bags to Lincoln Community Health Center Pediatric Clinic’s families in need. Any identified family visiting the pediatric clinic who is facing food insecurity will be given a grocery bag filled with dry/canned goods as well as a list of local food resources in the Durham area. Signup sheet has instructions and Grocery list
Food drive for Inter-faith Food Shuttle, Durham by Group 3 SSE Students every month Group 3 SSE students form leads in their communities and conduct food drive. Please contact Group 3 teachers for more information. Collected food will be delivered during first week of every month at
Inter-faith Food Shuttle
2436 S. Miami Blvd, Suite 200-9
Durham, NC
SSE
- Pre-SSSE
CLASS DATE: 09/26/2021 TEACHERS: Patti, Lakshmi, Saideepa, Mona SUMMARY: How God helps us through ‘Air’
ATTENDANCE: 11 We started the class with 3 Oms and Gayatri. At the beginning of each class we are bringing Swami in our Heart for five minutes and visualizing Him in different ways based on previous week’s lesson plan. We are sitting in silence and enjoying the moment with Swami. Theme of our class was ‘How Swami helps us through ‘Air’. Lakshmi aunty told us that how helpful air is for living, by blowing a balloon she showed us that we can feel air but cannot see it. She also did a fun experiment: she stuffed a paper towel inside a glass, turned it upside down and place it inside the bowl of water, paper towel was dry when she picked the glass up. Patti read a funny book about wind, ‘The Wind Blew’ by Pat Hutchins. Mona aunty showed us how to make a frisbee with a paper plate. The plate is light and we could play with the paper plate frisbee in the room where we were having our class. Saideepa aunty asked us to bring a scarf to the class. We all danced and sang with her using the scarves. It was a fun class with all the teachers. The activities that we are asked to do with our parents: Enjoy the beautiful breeze with our parents while playing frisbee, which we made in the class. with them. Also parents can show us how to make paper airplane and we can fly it around while we are outside with them enjoying the cool breeze.
- SSSE group1
CLASS DATE: 09/18/2021, 09/19/2021
TEACHER(S): Aruna, Sunitha, Resmi , Sharanya
Value: Love
Sub value : Devotion
Attendance: 28/41 We began with 3 AUMs and learnt Sai Gayatri.
The topic that we will dive into for this year is one of the human values- Love. The craft that we made in our last class made a perfect segway to talk about the concept Love is God and God is Love.
We began by showing the children a video with a beautiful song in the background which says ‘All you need is love, love is all you need’.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8DmZRD1jZc8We asked them to share what it is they liked from the video and why- just to know how they connected to Love emotion.
Swami says Love transcends the five senses of perception, which means we can not see, smell, taste, hear or touch love but we know it exists and it is present everywhere. We then explained this concept with the help of apple and air analogy.
Swami also says Love is his swaroopa, his form.So we said if we were to give a form to that love, which we cannot perceive with our senses, that form is God. And if we fill our hearts with love God will make it his home and live in our hearts.
We then told a story of Radha and Krishna to bring home the point that god lives in our hearts. Here is the story as told by swami- “Once, Rukmini invited Radha to her house. On receiving the invitation, Radha at once came to her house. Those days idli, dosa, cakes, etc., were not known as they are today. People would offer milk or curd to guests. In her exuberance of hap- piness, Rukmini offered her hot boiling milk in a glass. Radha used to offer everything to Krishna before partaking of it. She said, “I offer it to Krishna (Krishnarpanam) and gulped the boiling hot milk.
In the evening, when Krishna came to Rukmini, she performed His Padaseva (pressing His feet), and she was shocked to notice blisters on His feet. She asked, “Oh Lord! What has happened? Who caused blisters on Your feet ”? Krishna replied, “It is your own doing. When Radha came to you in the morning, you offered her hot boiling milk without bothering to check whether it was fit for drinking. She offered that milk to Me before drinking. Therefore, these blis- ters have come on My feet”.
We then learnt a beautiful bhajan on love. Please find the audio clip for the bhajan as a separate post in the group.
We also played a fun word search game.
Life application
The life application for the next few weeks is to ‘start the day with love and end the day with love’. Children can choose any of the different ways of expressing the love, for eg: with a smile, by remembering god, by saying a prayer, by thanking god, by silence sitting etc. Please Encourage them to be consistent with one activity for a certain period of time. We asked them to practice it just after waking up and right before going to bed. They will also record it in their spiritual diary with a tick if they did it and with a cross if they didn’t do it. We will post the pdf of the spiritual diary sheet separately.
- SSSE-Group2
CLASS DATE: 9/26/21
TEACHERS:Hitha Raj, Jagruti Mariwalla
Transforming challenges into opportunities with Love.
ATTENDANCE: 30/36
Summary of the class–
We started the class with chanting Om, followed by three Gayathri Mantra, meaning and Jyoti/ light meditation.
We did sharing of students’ last week’s life application.
We shared video of uncle lion story about how to transform your challenges into opportunities with love
Swami’s quote
Love lives by giving & forgiving,
Life application-
It is practical application of lesson in class teaching how to practice in daily life as a family . This class we have following practices-
- Practice Jyoti/ light meditation with your family. Practice Light meditation everyday. Link of meditation is as follows- https://youtu.be/C9kpnGyOJSI
2. https://www.sssgc-usa.org/1008sadhana/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SSE1day1008Flyer-sssgc.pdf
Please check this link and choose the choice of sadhana /practice as a individual and as a family.
Please choose a challenge to transform. As Swami always says I do not need your devotion I need your transformation.
Affirmation-
Individually each students shared and wrote their affirmation for the day.
Closing prayers-
Class was concluded by chanting three times “Samastha Lokaah Sukhino Bhavantu” and shanti”- May all the beings in all words be happy and peace.
If you have any questions feel free to approach any of the teachers. Looking forward to see you all in next class.
Sairam
- SSSE-Group3
CLASS DATE: 9/26/21 TEACHER(S): Nalini, Gangadhar
Guest Speaker: Priyatham S Mettu, MD
SUMMARY: Body is a miracle of God
ATTENDANCE: 21 Topic: Under the Theme Love, we discussed, Body is a miracle of God
Stories: We shared the numerous miracles Swami used to make at the banks for Chitravathi river, once when professor Kasthuri asked Swami to come to the banks, Swami asked why he wanted to go there, professor Kasthuri said to see Swami’s miracles, Swami then smilingly said, human body is the biggest miracle.
There are three things which are rare indeed and are due to the grace of God –namely, a human birth, the longing for Liberation, and the protecting care of a holy personage. Viveka choodamani verse 3
Wealth, friends, property, and even wife if lost, can be acquired again, but the human body is not like that; once it goes, it can never be got back, no matter how hard one may try. Human life is most precious, highly sacred, beautiful and invaluable. It is therefore the prime duty of every individual to take the greatest possible care of the body. The body is an indispensable vehicle for experiences. Without it nothing can be done, not even a simple task. The human body is, therefore, more precious than worldly wealth and such other material acquisitions. Life must be sanctified by making proper use of the body and engaging it in sacred actions. —Baba.
Guest Speaker, Dr Pritu has talked about importance & uniqueness of the body, he explained 10 organ systems & how each one operates, its specialty but they all work together as integrated whole body. He beautifully tied it back to Swami’s teachings. Please find the deck used for this discussion
Next Class: We will want students to complete the survey provided, we will discuss goals they will want to set to take care of their body and mind. Under Theme Love, we will discuss, Body is a temple of God.
Note to Parents:
Swami Birthday self transformation offering: Each student summarized their understanding of the topic, Love towards parents and introspected where they can improve. Each student identified their transformation ideas that they will follow. Each student was asked to write up the transformation ideas on a paper, show it to their parents and post it in their room or fridge so they can be reminded of the offering to Swami.
- SSSE-Group4
CLASS DATE: Sept. 26th 2021
TEACHER(S): Mouli, Nirmala Aunty, Yadavan, Sai Y. SUMMARY: 2nd Group 4 SSSE Class for 2021-2022 Year
ATTENDANCE:
15
Main topic:
In today’s Group 4 SSSE class, we started with 3 OM’s and had the new students who were unable to attend last week’s class introduce themselves. We reviewed the survey results that we had asked the Group 4 students to fill out. We then discussed how the teachers will be having 1:1’s with the Group 4 students to stay connected. Following that, Sai found us a 3-minute meditation exercise that we went through and we did an ice breaker having every student share their personal highs of the week. We went over the Raleigh Sai Center’s Transformational Sadhanas and asked for them to brainstorm potential ideas they would like to do. We went through various service activities and signups. Finally, we finished the class reading a Prema Vahini passage on “Perform good deeds and saturate the mind with God”. We had the students go into breakout rooms to read and discuss this passage. The students all participated and we will continue to do other passages in future classes.
Note to Parents:
Sairam Parents –
Group 4 will continue to do virtual classes and our next class will be on Sunday, October 10th at 3:30pm.
-Group 4 Gurus
Jai Sai Ram!
Young Adults (YA) Updates
GAYATHRI BEADS BRACELET SERVICE
SERVICE TO MAN IS SERVICE TO GOD
Sairam,
We will chant and energize beads using the power of Gayathri Mantra, make them into bracelets and offer it to people in need like hospital patients and people in senior care homes.
Steps to follow:
TAKE ONE BEAD IN YOUR HAND
CHANT GAYATHRI MANTHRA 108 TIMES WHILE HOLDING THE BEAD
AFTER CHANTING 108 TIMES, PRAY THIS BEAD HELP SOMEONE
KEEP THIS ENERGIZED BEAD SAFELY IN A SEPARATE BAG FROM THE OTHER BEADS
PRAY AND ENERGIZE AS MANY AS POSSIBLE
ONCE READY, EMAIL ya@raleighsaicenter.org TO DELIVER AND RECEIVE MORE BEADS
BEADS WILL BE CONVERTED TO BRACELETS AND GIVEN TO HOSPITAL PATIENTS OR SENIOR CARE HOMES
Seniors Corner
Seniors group (NEW!):
Sairam,By Swami’s grace, Rex and Wakemed have requested 80 bracelets made with prayer beads. Seniors from our center along with seniors from HSNC enthusiastically have taken this service project. More volunteers from our center are most welcome to join in this effort for praying with the beads. Please email seniors@raleighsaicenter.org if you like to pickup beads for this opportunity
Interest Groups Updates
Go Green Group – Tips
(REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE, RE PURPOSE, RECYCLE)
See all interest groups available.
Regional Update
Media Repository
The media repository for all past events is now available in our main page under this link. If you need the password, please email info@raleighsaicenter.org
Sai Center Officers
Officer Role
Name
Email Address
President
Senthil Kumar
president@raleighsaicenter.org
Vice-President
Gopal Somu
vp@raleighsaicenter.org
Education (SSSE) Co-ordinator
Aruna Shankar
education@raleighsaicenter.org
Devotional Co-ordinator
Shubha Nagaraj
devotion@raleighsaicenter.org
Service Co-ordinator
Param Dasana
service@raleighsaicenter.org
YA Co-ordinator
Sayee Shruti Manickam
ya@raleighsaicenter.org
If you have any questions, please email the respective office bearer. Click here to access their phone numbers (password protected).
Thought for the Week
Be bound to the Atma in you; take rest and refuge in That and meditate on That without interruption. Then, all bonds will loosen off themselves, for the bond with which you attach yourself to the Lord or the Atma has the power of unbinding all other bonds. The “unattached” have real love toward all. Their love is not only pure, it is divine as well. It is the embodiment of peace. Without a doubt, one can attain the Lord if one becomes devoid of all passion or attachment (raga) and engages in the actions detailed above. Renunciation or detachment (vairagya), of course, does not mean the giving up of hearth and home, or of high estate and even kingdoms. It is the understanding of the divinity immanent in everything, the fading away of all the distinct names and forms, and the bliss of experiencing in everything and every place the Divine, which is its reality. (Prasanthi Vahini, Ch 13) – BABA