22nd weekly posting of Saudi SAI activities- 5 July

[Guest guest]

Sai-Satsang in 4 centers continued

(week ending 5th July, Thursday)

 

Sairam to all Children, Sisters and Sai Brothers

in all 4 Sai SatSanghs in Dammam, Jubail, Jeddah and

Riyadh.

 

We continue with the Twenty second (22) posting of the

activities of all 4 centers.

 

Summary:

1) Total Attendance all over Saudi over 100.

2) Riyadh Bhajans attached (courtesy Bro Suresh)

3) Looking for Ganesha temple in Frankfurt

 

Details:

 

In Dammam the weekly satsang was held on the evening

of Wednesday 4th July at Bro. Kannan’s (SAFCO)

residence. The attendance was by about 30 members

starting at 7.30 pm. Aarthi was taken by the host Bro.

Kannan. Bro Raj Rajgopal from Riyadh stayed on for the

Study circle that was held later and attended by about

10 members discussing Chapter 7: Dharma-duty. Next

week Bhajan is scheduled at Bro. Prem’s residence.

 

Jubail center held the weekly Satsang on Thursday 5th

July at 7.30 pm attended by about 19 members at Bro

Gopi’s residence. Aarthi was taken by Bro Kaladeepan

who had come down with 4 other members from Dammam. It

being Mrs. Gopi’s birthday, a cake cutting ceremony

was held after Bhajans. We wish her “Many Happy

Returns”.

 

In Jeddah the weekly satsangh was held on Thursday 5th

July at 7.30 pm and attended by 14 members at Bro

Gopi’s place. Aarthi was done by Bro Prakash. This

week’s input was from Bro Ashok Kumar.

 

Riyadh group held the weekly Bhajan on Thursday 5th

July evening from 7.00 am till about 9 pm. It was

attended by about 48 members. The weekly Shirdi Baba

Satcharitha was read by Bro. Ravi (SABIC). The aarthi

was taken by Bro Vittal (City Plaza). Incidentally he

and his wife survived without any injuries a major car

accident while driving down from Dammam to Riyadh. The

car got fire and was burnt down. We all express our

thanks for Swami’s grace for saving them miraculously.

 

In the absence of Bro Gops, Bro Batha Suresh is acting

as the Bhajan coordinator. He has sent me the word doc

(see attachment) containing all the 14 Bhajans sung in

Riyadh and a printed copy was also circulated to all

members. This can be used for the information of other

3 centers. If they also prepare their Bhajans schedule

in a similar manner, I request them to send it to me

as it can be attached to these weekly reports.

 

From Children (Balvikas) book of short stories

referred to earlier, here is another story. This time

it is a real incident about Mahatma Gandhi.

 

Mahatma Gandhi was our leader during the fight for

independence (from British rule) which lasted for over

25 years. During that time, he established an Ashram

at Sabarmati (Ahmedabad, Gujarat). Gandhiji laid down

the rule that everyone who wish to stay on in the

Ashram must pay for their food and he paid for himself

and his wife Kasturbai. When his own grandchildren

visited him, they wanted to stay on. Gandhiji, to the

surprise of his wife, insisted that they too pay for

their own food and he did not relax the rules for such

close relatives. This shows the high moral standards

that he maintained not just for others (which is easy)

but also for himself.

 

Last week I visited Frankfurt in Germany for a short

period. There is a Ganesha temple located in a

separate small building (actually a shed) with OM

written in Tamil on one side and walls painted in

stripes like it is done in Tamil Nadu. There is also a

MariAmman koil in another location. In the Airport, I

met a Saffron clad Pujari who is maintaining Kamakshi

Amman Koil in Hamm about 200 kms from Frankfurt.

 

So that evening, not being able to visit any Hindu

temples (because it was late), I went on the way back

to St Bartholomew (one of the 12 apostles of Jesus)

Gothic cathedral where many kings were crowned– more

than 500 years old- that was still open and prayed

briefly.

 

In the tram (it is a city transport like bus, which

runs on rails found only in Kolkatta in India) I met a

lady from Andhra whose husband is working as a

software engineer in Frankfurt. She mentioned that Sai

Bhajans are being organized by “some SriLankan Tamils”

in different houses. It seems, there too are some good

souls like Packy and Nada here.

 

Frankfurt is a relatively small but prosperous German

city with a population of 650,000, but having more

than 500 banks and many skyscrapers including the

tallest bank building in Europe. It is also famous for

its fairs and Airport which connects many destinations

in Europe. Main/ Rhine river flows through it. Germany

is the largest country in Europe with a population of

83 million.

 

Finally a quote from Baba:

 

When you see your presiding deity, give a smile. Do

not stand with a frowning face! With such a serious

face, you can never hope to experience bliss. You must

always be happy because bliss is your true nature.

Always maintain a pleasant smile on your face. You may

definitely encounter problems and obstacles in life.

Grief and sorrow may sometimes assail you. Do not

break down and cry. These are things that come and go.

They are passing clouds and will never stay

permanently to trouble you. Do not yield to them; face

them head long instead. A steady faith in God will

give you the satisfaction of being a true devotee. –

Baba – (23 May 2002)

 

Sairam and Pranams to all.

P.B.V.Rajan