Collecting fund and the Sai Prayer Group

[Guest guest]

Sai Ram All,

 

Brother Arvind wants to start a FUND to help ALL who are in need of help.

 

Meenakshi Maa already has something of this sort running, as per her message.

AND IT IS BLESSED BY BABA. So we all should strengthen that with our individual

and collective efforts.

 

So will it not be better that Meenakshi’s organization takes care of receiving

funds from devotees – anyone can give any amount. All doners should get a

receipt and the annual accounts should be circulated amongst doners. I am sure

Meenakshi Maa will need some help as this move grows and gathers momentum. For

that we will have to wait for Meenakshi to let us know what type of help she

needs and on receiving that, all of us who qualify for that – can volunteer. As

I write this some devotees have already come forward and volunteered.

 

Now, Arvind, and other young devotees, who realize what ‘pain’ is and what

‘sorrow’ is and can use discrimination to judge the truth from the make believe

truth, can become the eyes and ears of the group. They will be on the look out

for opportunities where some money or goods are sponsored (as suggested by

Meenakshi Maa) to bring succor and peace to those effected by the calamity. The

other avenue where the eyes and ears of Arvind and other young devotees come

into play is in gathering doners – you are well to do – you can pay 10 dollar

every month, what about other devotees around you – it will be much harder to

convince them to part with a paltry 10 bucks on a regular basis. But, when

youngsters talk sense elders listen. And big movements are started by Young

Adults.

 

Frauds can be guarded against, again by our eyes and ears. Since this movement

will involve devotees at all levels – the chances of fraud are very minimum.

Let’s take note of what Lord Rama said. “It is sin to cheat, but not a sin to

be cheated.”

 

But, we are talking about collecting contribution / donation etc. When devotees

are involved this becomes a very murky process – more so when you are looking

at a million doners.

 

Here is some personal experiences when you are dealing with devotees. I mean no

offence to any devotee, but, this is a real experience – of last 15 years. We

have been with His Grace, involved in bringing some firsts for Baba and Baba

Devotees – like the SAILOGRAM was the first ever hologram of Baba and the Sai

Silver was the First ever Foil Embossed picture of Baba.

 

Sailogram, Sai Silver and Sai Gold were made from resources Swami had made

available to us, at that time. These we have distributed free as well as sold

to those who wanted to buy from us. Many came forward and bought these in bulk

to distribute free in their area. I personally believe, our Sai Products are

there in every country, where Baba is loved and respected. Any Baba institution

does a commendable work – we send gifts of our products for them, when a devotee

ask us for a Sai Silver on pay later basis – we oblige, when a devotee wants

Sailogram only (Sailogram can be bought only with Sai Silver of Sai Gold or Sai

AT. This is a mandatory rule) for his sick mother, we break the rule, but, we

oblige. Our sole purpose is to bring to the Baba Devotee that happiness, which

is ahaara for our beloved

Lord.

 

Now, in the 80th Year of Advent, when we came up for SAI AT – we broad based the

project on popular demand. We asked for donations and advance buys. Hundreds of

emails, continuous ads on Sanskar TV, after Spiritual Blossom program, has not

got us as many donors, as are enough to fund the program. Why talk of others,

who have not seen any of our products, even those who have already taken our

products earlier and have had happy experiences with them, are taking their own

time to decide ‘aye’ or ‘nay’. This is how difficult it is to take money from

devotees.

 

You see, all this talk is to drive home certain truths that I have faced in day

to day dealing with devotees. The fund collection should be prepared for it.

And collecting funds is more important – for, a years collecting may finish in

10 days of help to anywhere in the world. So collecting is of essence and more

effort has to be put into it. And don’t get carried away by calculators – 1 x

One Million and 10 x One million pictures – these are rosy pictures, but, what

you actually get in the fund is more important.

 

Sai Ram - Be Happy

 

JP

 

 

 

 

 

For devotees of Sri Sathya Sai Baba - Important Announcement.

 

SAI AT - project, to comemmorate Bhagwan Baba's 80th Year of Advent, has been

launched. For details

http://www.sailopics.com/80th_Year_of_Advent/80th_year_of_advent.htm

You can become project members of this memorable project if you have a SAILOGRAM

or SAI SILVER or SAI GOLD or procure one after reading this.

 

Sai Ram - Be Happy

[Guest guest]

Yes I totally agree with you 100% we must support Sister Meenakshi project(Swami

already blessed her project)

 

I think Sister Meenakshi need to brief her project once more.

 

Sai Ram

 

Soumendra

[Guest guest]

Jatindarji is right in stating that elders like Meenakshiji, Jatinderji,

Soumendraji and others should be the ones responsible for managing the funds

and overall activities of this mega project. I think that i am relatively

young(24) and inexperienced to handle things like funds,etc. This can be done

by elders. I as one of the young adults will do all that is necessary to

spread awareness among the various Sai centers throughout the US. I am ready

to travel on weekends and spread the idea of this fund.

Also one more thing, we should act as if we are the Vanaras(monkeys) of Rama's

vanar sena(monkey army). We are all now a part of the Sai Mission. The time has

now come to make 'Our Life His message'. Let us all put our hands together and

work for SAI.

 

Regards,

 

Arvind.

[Guest guest]

Sai Ram All,

 

I think sister Nishma had raised similar points......see below...

With love & light,Madhvi Duty is God, Work is Worship nishma agarwal

<sainishmaThu Aug 4, 2005 2:24pmRe: [saibabanews] Re:

Appeals and requests for help - Newsection in the groupSairam.While I applaud

these love filled thoughts from eager brothers &sisters, please let us think

this through carefully. While it may beeasy to appoint CAs & Lawyers to manage

this Trust, more importantis that we identify the 'needs' properly and ensure

that the moneyis going to the 'Right' causes.This is NOT comparable to the

Sevadals work in Maharashtra asresponding to the emergency following a natural

devastating tragedyin Mumbai is quite different to what we plan to do here in

thisgroup.Also we need to ensure that this is fully in line with the

SSSSOPrashanti & International protocol.May Swami bless this wonderful

group!love in Sai,Nishma

[Guest guest]

Sai Ram Dear Sai family

The notion of collecting funds and asking for

donations

is alien to Swami's instructions.

 

Swami advises us not to request funds. Donations to

any worthy cause must be given without solicitation.

 

As matter of fact, he specifically says to avoid

anyone who

asks for money in His Name.

 

We must be careful and not take Swami's guidance

lightly. He is the Grand orchestrator of all, He knows

the true hearts, intentions and motives of ALL. May

the Lord Bless us with wise discernment.

 

Lots of Prema

ki

[Guest guest]

Thank you Sis Sonya for raising this point. Ah! Now we did not think about this

issue at all !!!! This discussion started because there are many devotees who

are in need of montary help, but by rules we can't help them ! How ironic.

Meenakshiji, Jatindarji pls shed some light on this. Can anyone pls post

quotes by Swami about donations ?

 

regards,

Arvind.