Sai Satsagh week ending 6th April

[Guest guest]

Sai-Satsang in 3 centers continued

(week ending 6th April, Friday)

 

Sairam to all Children, Sisters and Sai Brothers

in all 3 Sai SatSanghs in Jubail, Dammam and Riyadh.

 

We continue with the ninth (9) posting of the

activities of all 3 centers.

 

Summary:

1) Good attendance at all 3 centers helps to take the

total to over 100.

2) Excellent example of seva activities described in

Dammam center study circle meeting.

3) Brief note on the movie “The passion of the Christ”

shown last week in Riyadh center to coincide with Good

Friday.

 

Details:

 

In Dammam the weekly satsang was held on the evening

of Wednesday 4th April, at the residence of Bro.

Kannan & Sister Janaki (SAFCO). The attendance was by

about 35 members starting punctually at 7.30 pm. Aarti

was taken by Bro Kannan. Study circle was attended by

about 18 members. Bro. Raj Rajgopal from Riyadh

attended both Bhajan as well as Study circle.

 

The presence of Shri R.S. Mani and Smt. Vasantha

(parents of Sister Sudha Varadha) was utilized by

Dammam members, by hearing their personal experiences

with Swami for past 35 years in Bangalore. This

reinforced the study circle lesson on “Faith”. In

particular, the efforts of their Bangalore Indra Nagar

samithi in supporting 225 slum children in education

and health care, is highly laudable example of service

& seva which our Baghvan emphasizes so much. In

addition they have adopted 10 villages and read to

blind children. Bro. Vinod Menon is study circle

coordinator.

 

Jubail center held the weekly Satsang on the Friday

6th April at 11.00 am that was attended by about 36

members at Bro Swamy Mahadevan’s residence. Aarthi was

taken by Bro Jayaraman (Dammam) who came with 20 more

members from Dammam. Next Study circle session

coordinated by Bro Gopalakrishnan is likely to be held

in third week of April.

 

Riyadh group held the weekly Bhajan on Friday 36th

April from 9.00 am till about 2.00 pm. It was

attended by about 45 members. The aarthi was performed

by Bro Subramanian. Singers rendered all songs in

either English Bhajans or Sarvadharma bhajans on the

occasion of Good Friday. The regular 15 minutes

reading from Shridi Sai Charithra was read this time

by Bro. Shankar.

 

Incidentally, in Riyadh center, Vedam classes are

conducted every Thursday evening at 5.30 pm. Members

are requested to take advantage of this unique

opportunity which may be there, only for a short

period. If any members need conveyance, I offer to

provide it (by taking them from home and dropping

back) whenever I am in Riyadh.

 

After the Bhajan, a movie (directed by Mel Gibson) on

“The Passion of the Christ” was shown courtesy

Spiritual co-coordinator Bro Kham who also gave a

useful introduction. A brief note on the film is at

the end of this note. If Dammam or Jubail members wish

to see this film (and I recommend it), they can bring

their laptops (with facility to copy DVD) on the

forthcoming Friday (13th April) when there is a

Ganapathi Homam planned in Riyadh center. Pl inform

Bro Packy or Bro Nada Uncle in advance so that DVD

could be brought by Bro Kham.

 

Incidentally our Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

on Sunday (8th April) appealed to the people " to take

keen interest in the message that radiates from the

Siddaganga Math. " in Timkur in Karnataka.

 

Addressing a gathering of over two lakhs people after

inaugurating the 100th birthday celebrations of

Shivakumara Swamiji of the math, Dr. Kalam said the

swamiji had been working for the people after his

initiation into sanyas 77 years ago. " It has been an

intense tapas, " he added.

 

The swamiji said that he was thankful to the

Government for giving the math Rs. 10 crores this

year. He had established 120 institutions in rural

areas, especially to provide reach higher education to

girls. This news is from PTI.

 

Note on “The Passion of the Christ” movie shown in

Riyadh Center

 

The first interesting point about this movie (in Saudi

Arabia) is it is banned. Not only that, the web site

is also banned. www.thepassionofthechrist.com/ - A

Mel Gibson Film - Official Movie Website - Icon

Productions

 

The second interesting point highlighted by Bro Kham

is that “correct message” from the movie should be

sought by us. This is of course the importance of

“Love all unconditionally” which our Swami teaches us.

Our Baghvan Sai Baba often refers to Jesus Christ’s

message of Love and has even materialized a cross from

the same wood in which he was crucified with his image

portrayed in great detail.

 

The third interesting point (which I found out after

the movie) is that it is highly controversial even in

the west. No doubt, it was a big office success, but

here are some comments from the internet sources (to

make you all more curious to see the movie)

 

“Jesus Christ’s endurance of the savage beatings may

indeed be the world's greatest model of endurance and

forgiveness, but that is not the Biblical message. The

Scriptures proclaim that that Christ Jesus' endurance

of God's wrath against sin is the key element in the

Gospel. It was His taking upon Himself God's wrath for

our sins that provides atonement for us who believe

that we are saved only by His sacrifice.” In this

sense, the excessive graphic violence and torture

shown in the movie was not appreciated by all.

 

It was also mentioned that the 3 actresses who were

shown (as pious Mary etc) were indeed well known

pornographic actress from Italy. This upset some

Christian groups. The actor who played the role of

Jesus (not Mel Gibson- he was only the producer and) was also a Jew and this was also a

controversy.

 

Incidentally Mel Gibson played the central role in an

earlier movie “Brave Hearts”which was also graphically

violent.

 

In my opinion, this movie should be seen only in the

day time and not in the night as it can be otherise be

disturbing for some to get a sound sleep. At least we

got that right in the Riyadh center.

 

Sairam and Pranams to all.

P.B.V.Rajan