The Sai Movement in Uruguay

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THE SAI MOVEMENT IN Uruguay

 

Unique Uruguay

 

It may be the second smallest country in South America

(with less than one hundredth of the continent’s

area), but it attracts more visitors per capita than

any other South American state. There is something

truly unique about this tiny state, Uruguay, located

in the south east of the continent on the shores of

the Atlantic Ocean. Maybe it is the 500 km pristine

coastline which is one white long sandy beach,

occasionally interrupted by dunes, pine, acacia and

eucalyptus trees; or could it be its fashionable

summer resorts and tranquil beach-towns?; or is it its

charming colonial towns and fortresses?; or its

vibrant art, music and jazz festivals which draw large

crowds?; or is it the pull of its inviting hot

springs, serene natural forests and captivating hilly

interiors?; or could it be because of its interesting

capital, Montevideo, a city with a quality of life

enviable even in the developed world?; or is it just

its magical climate with no extremes of temperature

coupled with an absence of natural calamities,

abundant supply of water and miles and miles of

greenery? Well….it is not any one of these, not even

the sum of all these; it is all these together and

much more. And what is that ‘extra’ that makes Uruguay

exceptional? In two words – the People.

 

 

Scenic beaches..

 

Serene greenery...Rocha, Uruguay

 

 

Charming cities...

 

....and Montevideo - its pride

 

Yes, the indomitable sense of freedom, fiery spirit

and at the same time the warmth and large-heartedness

that the inhabitants of this land have demonstrated

for centuries is rare to find. When Spanish invaders

came to occupy it in 1516, they were repelled bravely

by the people of this land and Spain could succeed

only in having very limited settlements. This

gallantry in combat is what has made the Charrúa

Indians (Uruguay ’s most important indigenous tribe)

famous.

 

 

In fact, even today one can find war-weapons and

utensils used by the original inhabitants in the

National Historic Museum in Montevideo, the country’s

capital. One of the noteworthy facts about this nation

(officially called the Eastern Republic of Uruguay) is

that since 1825, when it gained independence from

Brazil, the country has remained a democratic

republic, apart from a very small intermission of few

years. By far, it is the most politically stable

republic in Latin America.

 

Dynamic Development

 

This political stability has bestowed it great

benefits starting with a progressive economic

prosperity to a rich and lively sustained cultural

activity. It is for this reason that the country has

become home to thousands of immigrants. 94% of its

population is of white European descent comprising of

Spaniards, Italians, British and German to Croatians,

Greek and Armenians. Over the years the country has

grown in every sense. Demographically, it has a large

middle class and a literacy rate of 97%, comparable to

any developed country in the world. Economically, it

is very resilient with its investment-grade sovereign

bond rating staying intact in spite of severe trade

shocks.

 

And in recent years, Uruguay, tapping its advantage of

nearly three million literate people has shifted its

focus into the IT sector and now has become an

important software exporter and outsourcing hub in

Latin America. On the education front, in 1875 itself,

it had public schools which offered free, secular

education for the first nine years, a program which

continues even to this day. Between 1965 and 1985, the

enrollment in secondary school grew from 44% to 70%.

Today its universities are known for their high

quality of education, notable among them being the

University of the Republic, Uruguay.

 

Spirit of Liberty

 

The Gaucho (cowboy) - the national character

 

With all these developments, Uruguay is still a

country of soft gentle hills and large green pastures.

Gifted with four river basins or deltas, agriculture

has always been the country’s mainstay. Uruguayan rice

is a major export commodity. Apart from this, given

its temperate climate and predominantly gently

undulating landscape, cattle-raising and

wool-harvesting are among its principal occupations.

There is no doubt that the “gaucho” (cowboy) is the

character that has had the greatest influence on

Uruguayan society. His origin is found in the 18th

century from the white or “mestizo” (half-breed) that

used to live free in the plains, surviving from

nature’s abundance. They were excellent riders that

became famous for their independent spirit. No wonder

that the gaucho has became the symbol of this country

which has as its motto “ Liberty or Death”.

 

This idea of liberty flows to every field of activity

in Uruguay, including music and sports. Its music is a

grand confluence of African beats, Spanish guitars and

American rock and jazz. The country shares with

Argentina, the credit of creating the Tango, the

scintillating dance-and-song art style which has

become an indelible part of the its culture.

 

And in sports, football rules the roost, though rugby

and basketball are also popular. The country has two

Olympic gold medals in football. In fact, the First

World Cup in football which was held in a specially

constructed stadium in its own capital, Montevideo.

 

It would be interesting to mention here that

Montevideo, incidentally, is the capital, largest

city, as well as the chief port of Uruguay. In fact,

it is considered as a ‘primate city’ (just like

London, Paris or Tokyo) given that it is more than

twice as large as any other city in the country.

 

 

A love of dancing...

 

and football

 

But more than all these achievements and fascinating

facts, the most salient fact about this nation is

that, though it is pint-sized, its people are

large-minded and warm-hearted. This is precisely the

reason why it attracts hordes of tourists every year.

Even grander than this is its spiritual dimension. The

commitment to ethical principles in this sixty-percent

Roman Catholic country is commendable. To its credit,

it is the second least corrupt country in Latin

America (the first being Chile).

 

Sathya Sai and the Uruguayans

 

Having said all this about this beautiful country, it

would be facinating now to know how and when did Sai

enter this principled nation? And what impact did it

have in the lives of Uruguayans?

In was in 1980 that the first Sai Group began to

function in Barra de Carrasco in Montevideo. Sometime

later, in September, 1985, Mr. Leonardo Gutter and

Mrs. Mónica Socolovsky from Argentina came to Uruguay

and gave official sanction to create the first Sai

centre.

 

“How Sai Came Into My Life”

 

 

There were not many devotees in Uruguay then, but

slowly and steadily the immense love of Sai was

finding place in the hearts of the people who had

taken the first steps towards Him. To give an

instance, here is Ms. Julia Salas’s story. She says,

 

“It was the year 1987. The Lord’s hands were over me.

I had just lost my elder daughter and was searching

for some therapeutic help for my younger daughters to

help them overcome this difficult moment. During those

times I assisted at the Sivananda Centre, a master

whom I still adore. Still, somehow my heart longed for

something beyond, for someone who would be “the

Master” for me, though my love for Sivananda has not

diminished since.

 

The doctor who attended on my daughter Florencia,

spoke constantly of Sai Baba to her in my absence and

when I went to meet him eager to know about my

daughter’s progress, he spoke fondly about Sai Baba to

me too for a long time. Reluctantly I agreed to visit

the newly inaugurated Sai Centre of Montevideo. My

first visit to the Centre happened to be during the

devotional group singing session and the moment I

entered the place and saw an image of Baba, I fell at

His feet. I can say that I just fell in love with Sai

in the best sense of the word and my heart was full of

love. From then on, not only had I found the Master of

Masters, but also Him who would soothe my sufferings.

 

Some time after this incident a devotee of Uruguay was

traveling to India and I wrote and sent a letter to

Baba. What I wished and requested in that letter, was

fulfilled within a few years and was also confirmed by

Him in a darshan in the year 2002.”

 

Spiritual meetings at the Sai Centre in Montevideo,

the country's capital where the Sai Movement began...

 

Sai Inspired Service

 

As more and more such Uruguayans found ‘their master’

and ‘their refuge’ in Sai, the number of devotees only

grew and now they wanted to transform their devotion

into service for the needy. That is this best way they

thought they could express their gratitude to their

beloved Swami. When Montevideo’s Centre was formally

registered with the name “Centro Sai de Montevideo

Este” at the corresponding Culture Ministry of Uruguay

on January 29, 1988, it only helped the devotees to

organise themselves better in offering selfless

service.

 

 

 

Reaching out to the poor and neglected...

 

They started with a few activities like assisting at

an old age home, helping poor and impoverished

children of the streets, donating clothes, food, etc.

In fact, for the past seven years, Narayana Seva

(offering food to the poor) has been going on every

Sunday for people living on the streets by the

devotees of the Montevideo Sai Centre.

 

One of the youth who is an active participant in this

service says: “It’s not only about taking food to

them, they often prefer to talk with us rather than

eat. It is then that I realized the basis of

everything is Love - the Sai Love we take to them is

all that matters. Without that Love, there is no

service at all. One day Mr. Olmedo, who lives in his

little cardboard house, told us, ‘I would like to tell

you that I hope you’ll always be present in my life.’

In those moments, we realized that we needed him as

much as he needed us.”

 

Many years ago, when a long standing devotee of Swami,

Dr. Fanibunda, a dentist from Mumbai, asked, “Swami,

what is the role of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva

Organization in Your mission?” To his utter amazement,

Bhagavan said, “Nothing.” He was startled. Looking at

Swami, he continued, “Swami…nothing?” Swami confirmed,

“Yes…nothing.” Dr Fanibunda couldn’t help but ask the

question: “Swami, then why is there such a huge

organization setup?” Swami explained, “It is only for

your chitta shuddhi – purifying your heart.”

 

And this is exactly what was happening in Uruguay. The

people who were served were being benefited more than

the people who were served. The transformation it was

bringing in the hearts and minds of people was

heartening. The devotees helped anybody who asked for

help without any distinction. When a priest sought the

help of Zulma, a Sai devotee from the Sai group of

Juan Lacaze (a city in the Colonia department of

Uruguay), she lovingly obliged. And in the process she

was greatly rewarded. Recounting her experience, she

says,

 

“In 1990 a priest saw the need of a centre for the

physically and mentally handicapped in our community.

I was called with three other people to select those

who really needed to be served and would remain as the

users of the Centre. We started to face all the

difficulties one generally encounters in such work

from monetary constraints to lack of specialised

expertise in handling such type of disabilities.

 

Thanks to three institutions who gave us all possible

help, we realized that we would have to rehabilitate

the disabled persons at the social as well as the

functional level. We had to give some kind of

occupation to the members of the institution. We were

contacted by someone who had perfected the art of

making of brushes and assembling of notebooks. We

chose the workshop on construction of brushes for

sweeping floors. After years of hard work, we managed

to sell these to various co-operatives and businesses.

 

 

Centre for Disabled in Juan Lacaze, learning to live

and create...

 

The finished top standard brushes

 

In 1996, I had a meeting with Sai Baba in my first

trip to India, at a time when the work had receded a

lot due to various circumstances. But at the end of my

trip, I had become transformed with love and energy

flowing towards the need to serve. It is then that my

life-force was turned towards the Centre for Help for

the Disabled. For me, it was the third time that the

Divine presence was felt.

 

Today we have legal standing and twenty three people

are being served by the teachers; there is a technical

team to provide help in the areas of sociology, social

assistance, physiotherapy, singing, physical

education, yoga, handiwork and painting - all by His

grace.

 

In the year 2001, the Sai Group in Juan Lacaze was

formed after my return from seeing the beloved Avatar

in my third trip to India, and today the people who

form the group, work with me in the Centre for Help to

the Disabled. With the help of the Sai Centre we

attend to the needs of the physically and mentally

challenged based on the teaching of Sai: Service to

Man is Service to God. And the activities received

greater momentum when, in 2006, the Sai group gained

official status.”

 

 

So happy with what they have done

 

The disabled with their creativity fully enabled

 

Another important initiative taken up by the Sai

devotees was the setting up of the Sathya Sai Baba

Blood Donors Club in February 2004. Done in

arrangement with the National Blood Service in

Montevideo Sai Centre, this has played a great role in

saving many lives and has provided a beautiful

opportunity for the volunteers to offer “Liquid Love”.

 

EHV Takes Roots, Ennobles Minds

 

While the Seva activities were gathering momentum in

the late eighties and early nineties, the Education In

Human Values (EHV) programme too grew simultaneously.

The earliest introduction to EHV for the Uruguayans

was in 1987, when a Sai brother from Argentina came to

Montevideo and presented the Sri Sathya Sai Human

Values Programme. There were many teachers, directors

and supervisors who were very interested then in the

Program, but at that time there was no possibility to

have a course for them as there were no trained

devotee-teachers for the Program. But their enthusiasm

was high and it found expression in conducting Bal

Vikas classes for small children. In the early

nineties, there was a cohesive Bal Vikas Group in the

Centre of Montevideo. This program gradually expanded

through presentations and workshops in various

institutes and everywhere the program went it received

an encouraging response. In the meantime, the divine

in His own incredible way was preparing personnel who

at the right time would steer this programme to its

glorious heights.

 

 

The Sai Centre at Montevideo

 

In her first trip to India, one Uruguayan devotee was

listening to a Divine Discourse in Prasanthi Nilayam.

As usual, Swami’s discourse was in Telugu. But, this

devotee could understand Bhagavan’s golden words. It

was a real miracle! And she was so amazed and inspired

by this blessing, that from that moment on, she dreamt

of great accomplishments in Sai Education, which were

finally organized in Uruguay and benefited several

South American countries.

 

We know, one of the principal theories on which the

EHV programme’s work is ‘practice and then preach’. It

invites the teachers and EHV trainers to first live

the message before advocating it to others, because

Youth and children learn more from what they observe

than what they hear. And Swami is always there guiding

the teachers and goading them to perfection in His own

inimitable way. Sharing her inner transformation

steered by Sai, Ms. Maria Delia, says,

 

Transformation from Within

 

“I remember the month of March 1990 as something a

long time ago. I was immersed in a profound

depression, seemed like drowning in a never ending

well of thoughts. I questioned myself many a time,

what was my role in this life? Why did I exist? Who

needed me and who cared about me? I had lost my

self-esteem and was seeking, but with my heart closed.

One day, I pleaded ‘for a sign’ to something superior

- and that is when Sai Baba appeared in my life.

 

Surprisingly enough, a handout of the Sai Baba Centre

landed in my hands. One Sunday I decided to visit that

place. The devotional songs in Sanskrit and Indian

languages touched my heart profoundly and even without

understanding a word, I knew a lot of positive energy

vibrated around the devotees who had so lovingly

revived me that day. I discovered that here was ‘the

sign’ that I had asked. I just wanted to be there, and

then return again and again to that vibrant energy

which was so loving and sublime - and till today I

enjoy the same.

 

 

 

Since then, feeling that divine nectar that is the

presence of God, knowing little by little about my own

errors, my mistakes, working on them and eradicating

them has been my way. Now I know that discipline,

order, responsibility, being non-violent, and having

love for all, blesses us to transform for the better.

These qualities expand our consciousness internally to

receive benefits of peace and harmony.

 

Many years passed and sharing in the activities of the

Centre I learnt a lot. But there was something that I

had to work on and that was my anger. I spent a lot of

years trying to eradicate it from my life, I suffered,

cried and after various intents of trying to surmount

this defect, when I believed that I had overcome it,

Swami had a test ready for me and ‘zap’ there it would

re-appear.

 

When I said, ‘Swami, I give You my anger’, my temper

went on disappearing; I hurt many and repented later.

I thought I could control this weakness, but nothing

worked until I gave it away to Swami. In His messages,

Swami says ‘Give me all your miseries and doubts’. I

realized that until I understood this and practiced

the same, I wasn’t going to be without my anger.

 

In another period I had be operated upon and risked

losing my life. I dedicated my life to Him and said,

‘Lord, You know why this is happening to me, what you

decide will be the best for me, whatever be the

result.’ It so happened that my recovery was a total

success, nobody ever wanted to believe that I had been

operated and successfully sent home. During all of the

treatment of three and a half months, I would repeat

the Gayatri mantra and after five years the

medications were stopped. Ten years have passed since

this incident and I am hale and healthy. Remembering

Him at all times, let’s always be happy.”

 

Creating Human Values Endowed Teachers

 

SSSEHV Teacher Training Programme

 

An EHVworkshop session in progress...

 

As such personal transformations were taking place in

the minds and hearts of people, it only created the

right people the EHV program needed to take it to the

next level. The quantum jump in EHV development came

in 2000, when a group of motivated devotees decided to

prepare themselves to instruct various teachers in the

Sri Sathya Sai Education in Human Values Program. And

since then many teachers have been qualified in the

EHV programme.

 

The experience of the educators who have contacted the

SSSHVE has been universally positive. They say, “We

are able to live in their own lives the truth of

Baba’s words that we can transform ourselves only by

the practice of human values.”

 

But ‘who gives and who receives?’ This is the question

the egoless brothers and sisters who facilitated the

course ask. Their inner growth is so intense that it

is difficult to discern who is the giver and who is

the receiver. The whole concept of EHV is based on

love, unity and service, and the trainers were ‘living

examples’ of these principles.

 

As the EHV movement grew on the shoulders of such

inspired souls, the need for EHV teachers increased

manifold. It was therefore decided to have a sustained

two year course on Human Values Program training for

teachers, which was conducted in the Montevideo Centre

in the year 2000. In the same year, when information

arrived about a Human Values Conference being held in

Prasanthi, the Uruguayan Sai Organization sent a well

known school teacher, Mr. Héctor Florit, to attend the

Conference.

 

 

 

Sri Sathya Sai Mirpuri College of Music

 

It would be interesting to mention that it was also

the year when Swami inaugurated the Sri Sathya Sai

Mirpuri College of Music and contributions of typical

instruments for the Music Museum were welcome from all

countries. Uruguay took this opportunity and sent

three different drums (Afro-Uruguayan) for the Museum.

Not only that, one of the musicians from Uruguay, a

symphonic percussionist, was also part of the

Worldwide Orchestra which performed in the divine

presence in Prasanthi Nilayam on Bhagavan’s 75th

birthday.

 

When an Educare Conference was held in Prasanthi

Nilayam in 2001, the National Coordinator of Uruguay,

Mrs. Ada Fernández, participated in it on behalf of

the Uruguay Sai devotees. Inspired by Swami’s emphasis

and direction, the devotees in the same year started

the second Human Values Program teachers' training

Course. The graduates of these EHV courses have become

invaluable resource-persons who have implemented this

unique program to great success. Success begets

success, they say. And this is exactly what has

happened with the EHV program in Uruguay. The last

training course held was in May 2005 in which more

than 70 people participated and learnt the principles

and practices of Human Values over three months.

 

Sai Youth Leading the Way

 

Be it the EHV program, the service activities or any

other spiritual activity, if all of these are

flourishing today in Uruguay, it is primarily because

it is ably supported and at times steered by the

energetic Sai Youth. The Uruguayan Sai Youth are known

for their dedication and sincere adherence to Swami’s

teachings. Since the first Latin American Sai Youth

Camp organized in Argentina in 1997, the Sai Youth of

Uruguay have been active participants of all Youth

Camps and Retreats. In fact, the fourth Latin American

Sai Youth Camp in 1999 was organized in Uruguay

itself. Two years later, when the Camp was held in

Paraguay in 2001, more than 20 youth attended and

benefited from it.

 

 

The Teen Youth Sai Program

 

They do things differently

 

One of the important programmes handled by the youth

is the Teen Youth Sai Program. During 1999 and 2000,

the youth visited a State National Home (INAME, INAU

nowadays) for children up to four years old every

first Sunday of the month and spent time with them

singing and playing, apart from giving snacks and

gifts. The Manual for the Teen Youth Sai Program that

the Youth brought out was considered comprehensive and

special, and therefore was translated into Spanish in

2001 and 2002. Once in Spanish, it helped youth in

many countries of Latin America to adopt similar kind

of service activities.

 

Always enthusiastic, the Uruguayan Sai Youth, in 2001,

hit upon a novel idea. They decided to create unique

‘Human Value Post Cards’ and distribute freely to

disseminate Swami’s teachings. Funded by the members

of the Youth Program, these cards were placed by the

Youth in specific places (previously authorized) where

young people would normally be found, like

universities, colleges, discotheques, pubs, etc.

 

The youth had selected appropriate Sai messages, which

emphasized universal love and human values accompanied

by suitable images, which made the cards compelling to

look at. A massive 4,140 post cards were delivered in

Montevideo, and other parts of the country, during the

months of October and November. If one were to

document what inner changes and transformations these

little messages of love and peace brought about in the

lives of the chance-recipients of these cards, we are

sure, it would be a fascinating tale.

 

 

The energetic and lively Sai Youth

 

The Youth have been always in the forefront in all the

activities of the organization. After the Sai Latin

American Youth Camp in Peru in 2000, many Youth

committed themselves to become trainers in the Sathya

Sai Human Values Education Program. By end of 2001,

every youth in the Program had finished the training

and were ready to work with children and adults.

Later, Ms. Ada Fernandez Chagas, was trained in the

Institute of Sathya Sai Education, Malaysia to

coordinate the Teen Youth Program in Latin America.

 

When she returned from Malaysia, the Sathya Sai Youth

Program formed five groups to collaborate in the

translation of the Manual of the Sathya Sai Teen Youth

Program at the Sai Centre Montevideo, having the

support of adult devotees. In 2002 this extraordinary

Program was presented to people through the practice

of the different techniques with a group of

non-devotee youth from La Floresta resort in

Canelones.

 

The youth - always planning to serve their Lord

 

 

On His birthday, they celebrate with songs and music

 

The Sai Youth Program is always live and active. Since

2004, the youth hold meetings every last Sunday of the

month for teens in the Montevideo Sai Centre. And

every passing year there are more inspired youth

joining the Human Values Education course held in

Montevideo to be trained as Human Values Educators.

 

Apart from dealing with teens and human values, the

Youth also conduct other service activities like the

‘Sai Orchard Project’ where in 2003 a technique of

organic gardening was practiced which had as its goal

the development in Sai youth of family unity, the

value of work, self sufficiency, ceiling on desires

and health. This experience was held for a whole year

in the Sai Centre in Montevideo, and some of the youth

members even succeeded in implementing it in their

homes.

 

Sai Meetings for a Peaceful Uruguay

 

While all these activities are going on at the level

of the Sai Centres and Sai groups, there are other

projects being undertaken at the national level. In

the beginning of 2003, work began on creating the

Manual de Apoyo para Grupos Sai (MAGS), (or Supporting

Manual for Sai Groups) which could help newly starting

Sai groups in their activities. This was the first

service project at National level and was a very

important one too with Sai Centres proliferating in

all parts of the country. Though it took two years to

complete, once done, it helped as an invaluable

support material not only for Uruguay, but also for

the whole of Latin America.

 

 

'Supporting Manual for Sai Groups' logo

 

The ‘First Conference of Religions’

 

The first half of this decade (2000-2005) saw many

public meetings being organised by the devotees in

Uruguay to spread peace and harmony. In 2003 the

National Coordination Committee together with the Sai

Centre of Montevideo organized the ‘First Conference

of Religions’. It took place in the Centre of

Montevideo, and many speakers from the main religions

of the world gave spirited talks emphasising the

commonalties of world religions. Another similar

‘National Encounter on Religion’ was held at the Sai

Centre Montevideo in 2004. All these conferences and

workshops were coordinated by devotees and

non-devotees representing these religions. One

important facet of all these meetings was the

heartening unity that reigned among all the speakers.

There was a perceptible atmosphere of tolerance and

peace and one could feel His presence throughout.

 

After the Latin American Sai Meeting in Buenos Aires,

Argentina on May 8 and 9, 2004, which was attended by

many Uruguay devotees, Baba inspired these devotees to

repeat in their cities the wonderful experience they

had in Buenos Aires. And with the energy of the

unforgettable event held in their neighbouring

country, the devotees in Uruguay organized a National

Sai Meeting in Montevideo, the capital city, in

September 2004. This would be the last of the series

of Sai Public Meetings in the cities where Sai Groups

exist before the 80th birthday celebrations of

Bhagavan in 2005.

 

 

A Sai Public Meeting...the speaker projected

on a big screen

 

Time for refrehsments after a

Sai Centre meeting ...

 

The Immeasurable Glory

 

Meetings or no meetings, bhajans or no bhajans, the

Sai movement in this small tiny Spanish speaking

nation has only grown in greater pace in recent times,

thanks to the mysterious ways of the divine. Though

located thousands of miles away from Puttaparthi, and

comprised of devotees who may not have seen Swami

physically even once till now, the way divine love

touches the hearts of so many simultaneously is

unfathomable. It would be difficult to put in words

what fills devotees’ beings with ceaseless inspiration

and propels them to dedicate their lives in His

service. Just like the Lord who is only One, without a

second, the Sai Movement in Uruguay too is unique,

exceptional and divinely inspiring.

 

- Heart2Heart Team

 

We are grateful to Mr. John Benher and many devotees

of Uruguay who made this article possible.

 

http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_05/01MAR07/04-uruguay.htm