Guest guest Posted February 16, 2008 Report Share Posted February 16, 2008 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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