Sai Center Atmosphere

[Guest guest]

I would like to hear your opinions on this. We have Sai Centers

around the world. We know the Vedas are the highest source of truth and

Baba praises Indian culture as the highest. We also know that Baba has

said all paths are acceptable as long as the flame of unity is not

extinguished. And we know that Baba is orchestrating everything.

Suppose you have a center in some country other than India. To what

extent can centers embrace local culture as a way of creating a

comfortable atmosphere for locals. We can't change the basic format as

set out by the organization. But what can we do to make locals feel at

home? For some the transition is easy. For some there is an intrinsic

appreciation of all things Indian and this is a source of joy in

addition to all that they are learning from Baba. But for others, if

the experience is too foriegn, this may affect their decision to pursue

Baba's teachings. I am interested in getting as many people as possible

access to Baba's teachings while knowing Baba orchestrates everything.

What are your thoughts on this? Is this something worth working on or

is it a non issue? I know that Love is the key, but what are some

concrete ways in which this Love could be expressed? Sai Ram

[Guest guest]

Sai Ram.

[Guest guest]

Sai

color:navy"> Ram,

 

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">This topic is a very relevant one, which

we discussed many times here in

color:navy">Curacao. Indian

rituals, pooja’s, padukhas,

bowing , namaskar, flower decors and even incense are

very far from the traditional way we attend to saints or follow any form of Christian

doctrine.

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Even taking of shoes and floor sitting can

turn people off because of certain associations with unproper

decorum of hospitality. Somebody

can be offended easily, meanwhile this person still

can show genuine intrest in Swami.

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">For these reasons the local Sai center is

mostly visited by people of Indian decent or

people who are very comfortable with the Indian culture maybe even before

knowing Baba, maybe through Yoga, Meditation,Brahma Kumaris courses etc.

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Sensing this problem I approached

a few Curacaoan

devotees about two years back to start a Sai group. As

some were not attending the local center for the above mentioned reasons but

were ardent Baba devotees for many years they were very happy with this opportunity

and the need for such a group was felt by all.

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">One may ask how can

one love Swami and accept Him as God and follow and live by His teachings and

still be somewhat aloof from the Indian way of worshipping as mentioned above.

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">I have learned that this is very much

possible as not everywhere in the world people get a chance to see the high

merits of the Indian culture by example of it’s

descendants. Even as a serious devotee apart of the time spend in Baba’s

ashram and on His other premises

, accept beggars, poverty, deterioration and debris there is not much to see

unless you seek it deliberately. As a tourist you may see more of the Indian

culture than as a devotee whose sole aim is to be with Swami. For this reason

for overseas devotees it is such a treat to see cultural presentations of

Indian dance and music sometimes in the Ashram. It broadens once perspective.

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">In our little group the altar looks

different depending on who is hosting satsang. Central

focus is Swami

combined by maybe Jesus, Mother Mary or other Divine ones.

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">People can sit in chairs if they want and

we explain the reasons for keeping the shoes outside, greeting with Sai Ram and the use of incense.

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">In contrast to some centers in the

color:navy">USA

color:navy"> we do perform Aarthi Indian style in our

local group, as the idea of receiving Light in the Heart or as a blessing is

very comfortable to us. We combine it many times with distribution of Holy Water

sprinkling before sharing Vibhuti.

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Our songs are in Papiamentu,

Dutch, Spanish, English, Hindi and Sanskrit. We also take songs out of the

catholic songbook and all is well and people feel comfortable.

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">I

do believe that Swami does not want people interested in Him to be

alienated by anything, it is our conduct and example that will help people to

come nearer to Swami (that is after He called them to take part in His mission

of Love or maybe He called them via our conduct).

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">In cultures like ours which is very

different from the Indian culture, dressing in white, bowing and swaying

incense while chanting Ohm is not enough to share out Swami’s Love, there

is not much spirituality in that. More difficult is to accept the one who does

not want to take her shoes off or brings a tuna salad as Prasad or does

anything that to us is not proper to do infront of

Swami or anywhere us.

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">My motto is, if Swami called this person

to Him I must serve, and when He did not call the person I must serve more!

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">There is no good or bad it just is. Our

satsangs are very lively, happy and everybody is

comfortable with the altar, with the bhajan languages

etc. This same feeling I get in the Miami Spanish center. All can feel the

Latin culture, but still it is like we are all one and the same as a part of

Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s

culture.

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">I am very happy with this topic as we have

been discussing it for the past month. This weekend we are keeping an

information session for friends and family who are interested in Swami and we

talked about the atmosphere we should create. There is even no need for a

picture of Baba because He lives in our hearts. Our testimonies, a short video

and the Light and Love coming out of our eyes should be enough not for people

to become Baba followers but for them to take a look at His teachings and understand

the transformation which knowing Swami can bring forth in ones life.

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">

Sai

color:navy"> Ram,

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Cheraldine

 

 

 

KellyYoga

[kellyyoga (AT) comcast (DOT) net]

Wednesday, August 11, 2004

10:23 PM

saibabanews

[saibabanews] Sai Center

Atmosphere

 

I would like to hear your opinions

on this. We have Sai Centers

around the world. We know the Vedas are the

highest source of truth......

[Guest guest]

Sairam:

The best way is show Swami through our life. With

conviction talking to people about the God on Earth.

Only the westeners has the courage to declare they are

devottees of Swami with pride. They are not ashmed of

that. Many Indians hide the picture of Swami and

their devotion. They talk vedanta that "Baba will

spread Himself." Come out of closets and talk about

Swami where ever one can. I do this all the time. I

am doing this for the past 40 years in my own way. Be

bold brave to tell about Swami.

Partha

[Guest guest]

jchawla

Fri Aug 13, 2004 0:36pm

RE: [saibabanews] Re: Sai Center Atmosphere

 

We must follow Swami's teachings. Swami sends a Global Message not

an Indian message. I think that Sai Centers must include the

language of the country that it is in and incorporate both the

Indian customs as well as the customs of the host country. Sai

Centers are for all Sai devottees not just for Indian Sai

devottees. Everyone should be comfortable and feel they are

getting together to celebrate their love for their Beloved Swami.

 

Sai Ram & Love

 

Jyotsna Chawla

 

My Mission

 

I have come not to disturb or destroy any Faith, but to confirm in

his own Faith, so that the Christian becomes a better Christian, the

Muslim a better Muslim and a Hindu a better Hindu. I have come to

reconstruct the ancient highway to God; to instruct all in the

essence of Vedas, to shower on all this precious gift; to protect

Sanathana Dharma, the Ancient Wisdom and to preserve it. My Mission

is to serve happiness and so I am always happy to come to come among

you, not once but twice, thrice as often as you want me. To set

right those who have taken to wrong path and to protect the good

people, Sai will be born again and again. I have come to light the

lamp of Love in your hearts, to see that it shines day by day with

added luster. I have not come on any mission or publicity for any

sect or creed or cause nor have I come to collect followers for any

doctrine. I have no plans to attract disciples or devotees into my

fold or any fold. I have come to tell you of the Universal, Unitary

Faith, this Path of Love, this Duty of Love, this Obligation to

Love. Believe that all hearts motivated by the One and Only God,

that all Faiths glorify the One and Only God, that all Names in all

languages and all Forms man can conceive, denote the One and Only

God. His adoration is best done by means of Love. Cultivate that

attitude of Oneness between men of all creeds, all countries, and

all continents. This is the message of Love I bring!

 

You are all in the Kingdom of Sai!

You are all in Sai's Home!

You are all in Sai's Light!

You are all in Sai's Heart!

 

-- Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

 

----------

 

sandhya <sandysurap9

Fri Aug 13, 2004 1:04pm

Re: [saibabanews] Re: Sai Center Atmosphere

 

Dear Sai brother,

You are right.But i feel we should not talk unless we exemplify

Swami's teachings and do it so surrendering to His will.If somebody

is ashamed of their devotion to Swami and hides His pictures, then

he/she is no devotee at all.He is the Master of the universe!Why be

ashamed of His love? I think we should talk about Swami, but always

have the firm faith that He is talking through us.The advent of the

Avatar cannot be comprehended in fullness unless one's heart is open

to receive His love and grace.So it's important to dedicate the

action to Swami, soften a person's heart with our virtues and

sweetness and only then talk about Swami.Like, when somebody asks

you how you are so peaceful and happy all the time, you can declare

that it is due to Our Sweet Lord.But if we declare that we are

Swami's devotees and act worse than a man with no knowledge about

conducting himself, Swami will not be happy.So it's all a matter or

discrimination and surrender to Swami.

Sandhya

 

 

 

saibabanews, KellyYoga <kellyyoga@c...> wrote:

> I would like to hear your opinions on this. We have Sai

> Centers around the world. We know the Vedas are the highest

> source of truth ......

[Guest guest]

Om Sri Sai Ram

 

Dear Sister/Brother,

 

First of all thanks for sharing your wonderful

experiences which enrich my every day with the Sai

Satsang.

 

I live in a place called Paraguay in South America

since the last 7 years and am an active memeber in the

Sai Organization and Sai Center of Asuncion, Paraguay.

There are only 5 members including me of the Indian

origin out of the 23 active members which belong to

this Center.

 

The Organization has certain rules and regulations for

the Centers given by Bhagawan Baba himself. These

rules include a uniformity of activities so that any

Sai devotee belonging to any center can assist any

other center anywhere in the world and be comfortable.

It is also good to remind here that Swami talks about

Vedanta, Indian culture but spirituality is universal.

One need not adopt Indian culture or rituals to

understand spirituality. Other point is that Swami

and his teachings have to be adopted into the local

culture. The base of every culture being

spirituality. For example in our center we have a

photo of Jesus right next to Sai and so also a statue

of the Virgin Mary. (Paraguay is considered as the

most catholic country in the world). We finish our

prayers with "Our Father in heaven...." which is a

Christian prayer, we celebrate local festivals, try

and include local culture dance and activities. The

devotional group singing is of course done with ladies

and gents separately, it starts with Om and ends with

Shanti thrice....as in all Sathya Sai Centers of the

world. The new members are explained the significance

of every thing that might seem new to them too.

 

The above is to just give you an idea, hope it helps.

 

With love in Sai Service

 

Kishor

 

 

 

 

 

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