7th Weekly Posting of Saudi SAI Centers - 15 Feb 08

[Guest guest]

Sairam dear Sai Children, Sai Sisters and Sai Brothers

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

Riyadh.

 

We continue with our 7th posting of 2008 as on Friday

15th Feb 08. This week also I am continuing to report

in the absence of Sister Renuka who has gone to India

(on a short vacation) to attend the wedding of a near

relative.

 

Summary:

1. Total Attendance all over Saudi was above 130.

2. Organizing a dinner for SAI members (sharing tips &

experience)

3. Vedam classes, Meditation and House Bhajans.

 

Details:

 

Jubail center held the weekly Satsang on Thursday 14th

Feb at 7.30 PM attended by about 25 members at Bro

Wimal's residence. Aarthi was taken by Bro Jagadeesh.

There were 9 members from Al-khobar. Incidentally

Shirdi Sai Satcharitha is being read out in each

session by Bro. Swamy Mahadevan since last anniversary

on 25 Jan 2008. Thank you Bro. Wimal for the report.

 

Dammam-Khobar centre held the weekly Satsang on

Wednesday, 13th Feb 2008 at 7.30 pm at Bro.

Varadharajan’ s SAFCO residence in AlKhobar. Around 25

devotees attended the Bhajan. Aarthi was taken by

Bro.Ravi. Thank you for the report, Bro. Prem.

 

Jeddah Samiti held the weekly Bhajan at 14th Feb

Thursday starting at 7.30 pm at Al Rehab Dist. Bro

Rajan/Gopi residence. Total attendance 20 devotees.

Bro. Vijayan of Marriott has taken Aarthi. After

Bhajan all members discussed about various proposals

to improve the center. Bro. K.P.Rajan report (on

telephone) is as follows:

 

“We want Jeddah to have a dedicated center like

Riyadh, as only that can help to achieve continuity

and growth. It should become active like in Bro

Rommel’s time. I managed to get the back the Swami’s

portrait from the consulate which Bro Rommel was

using. I need volunteers to share the rental cost of

the dedicated flat where one large room should be

reserved for Pooja and community prayers only. I am

willing to contribute 50% of a large flat rent but it

should not be used for other purposes. We need more

members and more activity level from existing

members”. Thank you Bro. K.P. Rajan.

 

I request other centers to come forward to help Bro.

K.P.Rajan’s efforts to grow the Jeddah center.

 

Riyadh centre held the weekly Satsang on Thursday,

14th February 2008 at 7 pm followed by dinner. It was

Mahila Bhajan and more than 60 people attended the

Bhajan session. Sister Meena Ram took the aarthi.

 

I request those members who do see this risnet posting

to enquire with other members as to who is not

accessing it, for whatever reasons. We can thus plan

to have print outs of each weekly risnet postings for

them distributed at the Bhajan. (We cannot reach them

now because they cannot see this announcement) . Pl

inform me in person or via email

 

A dinner was hosted after the Mahila Bhajan. In the

event other members want to sponsor such dinners the

following experience is narrated as tips.

What went right:

 

1) Enough food for all 60 guests (ordered only 50 Pax

from Classic catering)

2) The quality was good (as per guests)

3) The display was good (with buffet style separate

containers heated by spirit stove below and table

covered by table cloth.

4) Small Water bottles moved faster, guests preferred

them.

5) Gulab Jamun –sweet was nice

 

What went wrong:

 

6) The Classic delivery van was 40 mins late and every

time you ring the driver, he says " in 10 mins " and he

was contacted 4 times (fortunately the prayer just

finished by the time they were setting up the table)

 

7) They did not bring Sambar and no checking was done

against the order list, when they brought- was so

relieved they came at all. As a result most of the

white rice went waste, although there was Laban for

dahibath.

 

8) The quantity of food (for 50 pax) was too much by

15-20% for 60 guests (although the center packed it

into about 20 containers for Narayana seva and

distributed it). This means the order could have been

for 40 or 45 pax for 60 people or one should bring

containers for packing the extra food for Narayana

seva. Also bought Banana (7 kgs) as an insurance

against food shortage that was not necessary. Also

bought 3 big laban containers, only one of them was

even opened. Two were not even opened. Did not check

with Classic caterer about disposable plates and

napkins. So bought them and they also brought 50

plates and napkins. Spent extra money which could have

been saved and better utilized if there was such tips

available or more thought process.

 

9) Classic charged 25% more than what they usually

charge the center dinners- may be that is the result

of not having good negotiating skills. Also there is

Price rise of all goods in the food market. Did not

want to negotiate to the bone, sacrificing quality or

quantity, both in their hands.

 

Incidentally in response to several enquires for my

daughter’s marriage photos they are all uploaded in

http://www.charupra sanna.com/ home.html. Pl visit and

post your comments in the Guest book. It is perhaps a

modern trend that more than 2000 visitors have been to

this site leaving 100 messages. Virtual Reality is

here, it seems.

 

Riyadh Center has regular Vedam classes conducted by

Bro Suresh Iyengar who spent 2 years to learn them and

is generous enough to offer his time to come to center

to train any one interested. The present classes are

going on in Phalasruthi and Purusha Suktham. The

present Bhajans start with chanting of Vedam for 5

minutes by all devotees. Other centers are encouraged

to follow the practice.

 

For those interested in “Silent Meditation” (without

noise), I offer my flat which can accommodate 10-20

bachelor men at a time. (No women for obvious

reasons). It can be in the evening of any working day

except Thursday for one hour maximum of which

Meditation will be 30 mins and discussion (in low

voice) 30 mins. Refreshments can be arranged.

 

House Bhajans are being encouraged under a new

initiative by the center. It is not necessary to

invite all members but limit to such numbers as can be

comfortably accommodated and controlling the noise

level. It would be good if we can have one House

Bhajan every week.

 

We end our 7th posting for 2008 here with these

Divine Words----

 

The power of Love alone confers true strength. All

other powers are of no avail. Hence the only strength

we should seek from God is the strength of Love. With

that strength all the powers can be acquired. It is

not siri (wealth) that we should desire; we should

yearn for Hari (God)... It is not rolling in wealth

that constitutes enjoyment. To be immersed in God's

love and thoughts of God is the greatest enjoyment as

well as true yoga... God is present everywhere in the

Cosmos. He is timeless, without beginning or end. You

must try to develop the awareness of this Omnipresent

Divine in your heart….. Baba

 

Pranams

P.B.V.Rajan