Spreading a gospel of positive energy

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Spreading a gospel of positive energy

 

Don Retson, edmontonjournal.com

Published: Friday, May 30

 

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=b87f586a-

a577-4abd-b9bc-2e159361000e

 

EDMONTON - Preeti Mathur beamed recalling how a complete stranger

approached her to ask if her group was responsible for the good

vibes at a park on Edmonton's south side.

 

" What are you doing? " a face-painter asked Mathur at McIntyre Park

in Old Strathcona last Saturday afternoon. " I feel positive

vibrations today coming from this corner of the farmers market. "

 

Mathur's comment drew smiles and approving nods the next evening at

Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre of Edmonton.

 

 

Members of the centre made up a large number of the 200 people who

took part in Edmonton's fourth annual Walk for Values the previous

day. Mathur was chief organizer of the event.

 

The walk isn't a fundraiser. It's meant to create awareness of the

importance of practising positive values to bring about a more

caring and kinder world.

 

Participants pledge to practise one of five values - love, truth,

peace, non-violence and right conduct. They believe that when each

individual tries to change, there's a positive impact on their

families, communities and ultimately the world.

 

A Hindu by birth, Mathur was educated in a Catholic convent in her

native India.

 

Today, she's educational co-ordinator of Sai Baba Centre, a non-

denominational spiritual and service organization, with millions of

devotees worldwide.

 

During a Sunday evening devotional service, Mathur noted some

passersby were so impressed they signed up on the spot and took part

in the three-kilometre walk.

 

" It was a wonderful, motivating and energizing experience, " Mathur

said of the event, which included speeches, music and the decoration

of a gazebo and floats.

 

Mathur was attracted to the Sai Baba organization by the teachings

of Sri Sathya Sai Baba of India, in particular his belief that all

religions are facets of the same truth.

 

This respect for other faiths is one of the first things to strike a

visitor. Each of six major world religions is featured in a glassed-

in display.

 

During a tour, centre president T.R. Pillay explains that the

elaborate and artistic work of the displays was done by Sunday

school students. " We made sure that people of any faith that come in

here will feel comfortable and that's why we have these displays

depicting the various faiths, " he said.

 

The Sai Baba centre has been around since in 1983, at various

locations. Wanting a permanent home, devotees eventually bought a

property at 9619 Whyte Avenue. The building once housed Studio 82.

An additional $150,000 was spent on renovations to convert the old

movie house into a place of worship.

 

For historical reasons, the facade of the building is unchanged from

its Studio 82 days. However, the words " Sai Sadan " (House of God) on

the exterior are a dead give away that movies aren't what's

happening inside any longer. There's also a message from spiritual

leader Sai Baba to " Love all; serve all, " not your typical greeting

at a movie theatre.

 

At devotional services, males in white or light-coloured clothing

(symbolic of the purity of spirit each is aspiring for) sit on

chairs or on the carpeted floor on one side of the huge worship

hall. Females in traditional Indian saris sit on the other side of

the room.

 

Facing all is a giant picture of Sai Baba, considered by millions of

his followers around the world to be an avatar or incarnation of a

divine being. Devotees revere him as a great spiritual leader, a

humanitarian, a man of miracles.

 

There's a great emphasis in the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Organization on

service to the poor, the destitute and the sick. " Help ever; hurt

never " is one of Sai Baba's famous quotations. Another is: " Hands

that serve are holier than lips that pray. "

 

For more information about the local centre, phone 437-7243.

 

© Edmonton Journal 2008