June 22nd 2007

Dear USA Sai Young Adults, Sai Ram!

We hope this email finds you happy and healthy.

Recently, the World Foundation provided Swami with an update on the World Youth Conference (WYC) preparations, which also included the implementation of the International Sadhana Program. After all details were shared with Him, Swami asked, "Are youth really practicing the Sadhana?" At another instance, Swami asked, "What are the USA youth doing?"

While we may interpret these words in a variety of ways, at the very least, the USA young adult leadership would like to improve upon our Sadhana (spiritual discipline) efforts. These spiritual disciplines are not only for Conference delegates, or only to be practiced until the WYC. These disciplines are for all of us to build lifelong habits, and shape the way we live our lives.

To build greater unity amongst the USA Sai Young Adults, we suggest all youth to collectively engage in two of the nine disciplines, Light Meditation and Namasmarana (repetition of the Lord's name), as Swami emphasizes on these two practices for our spiritual growth. http://www.sssbpt. info/vahinis/ dhyana/dhyana02. pdf

We have outlined the suggested disciplines as follows:

NAMASMARANA: Chant the Gayatri Mantra 21 times at 21:00 hrs (9pm) local time, wherever you are, starting today! Swami has said, "The Gayatri mantra is enough to protect the person who chants it, because Gayatri embodies all the divine potencies. It is an essential requisite for the young because it
ensures a bright and auspicious future for them." (August 23, 1995 Discourse)

LIGHT MEDITATION: Begin study circles, and all young adult gatherings with light meditation. If possible, individually undertake this each day. Swami wrote, "Through meditation, people reach the divine experience of realising the
Atma within themselves." (Dhyana Vahini, p17)

Other initiatives are also suggested in the flyer.
We hope you will join us in this group prayer every evening, and continue to foster your individual sadhana efforts, as we travel on our journey to Self-Transformation !

Jai Sai Ram!

Sangeeta Lekhi
Daniel Scovill
USA Young Adult Representatives

Gayathri Mantra Link:
http://www.sathyasai.org/devotion/prayers/gayatri.html

International Sadhana Program Link:
http://www.saiyausa.net/content/view/159/

WYC 2007 Exhibition

Sadhana: A Step-by-Step Journey

April 13, 2007

Dear Sai Youth, Sai Ram!

We have the blessed opportunity to host an Exhibition at the upcoming Sathya Sai World Youth Conference, as a way to offer to Bhagawan our journey of self-transformation.  The purpose of the Exhibition is to showcase how youth are integrating the nine components of the international pre-conference Sadhana Program into their daily lives. 

With His Grace, the Exhibition will become a source of inspiration, marking the culmination of efforts to date, and pointing our direction for activities in the future. Every youth delegate and even those who cannot attend can contribute to this special event that will inspire youth and adults alike. 

Theme

Sadhana: A Step-by-Step Journey

During this journey of self-transformation, with every step we take, let us infuse it with His name, and make it the basis of all our spiritual disciplines.

          “Lord! Your Name is the bridge that can safely transport man across the Ocean of Life.” 

                                                                           – Ram Katha Rasa Vahini

While the Namasmarana aspect will represent the backdrop and manifest throughout the Exhibition, the elements of the Sadhana program will inspire each of the other sections. Each area (booth) will represent a spiritual discipline, and how youth are implementing it in their daily lives. The disciplines will be presented in a variety of ways, representing culture, creativity, key practices and learnings from youth and youth groups.

Most importantly, it will reflect the unity of youth worldwide, in our love for Sai.

The United States will collaborate with other Zone 1 countries:

How Can Youth Participate?

Every zone will showcase at least one spiritual discipline, and each youth can participate by:

1.        Sharing a personal journey of self-transformation through experiences, photographs, creative displays, and tangible offerings.

2.        Offering hands-on skills and experience towards design, construction, and content presentation, prior to and at the Exhibition.

    While each zone is responsible for only a specific part of the Exhibition, it will be a demonstration of “unity in diversity”, representing youth worldwide.  In addition to supporting your zone, we encourage youth to contribute towards any spiritual discipline that is closest to your hearts, and share in the common goal of offering Swami our efforts. Zones have listed a preliminary description of how they would like to embody the discipline of their choice, and this is shared below for your reference. Your country youth leaders will send you further details on how you can participate. 

An Exhibition Sub-Committee is also in place to assist and provide support to each zone, making this Exhibition a unifying offering of our love for Sai. 

Now, let us work together and invite Sai to bless and guide the Exhibition, a visual representation of our spiritual journey towards Him!

In Sai’s Service,

Sangeeta Lekhi

On Behalf of the Sathya Sai World Youth Conference Planning Committee

Spiritual Disciplines & Zone’s Preliminary Ideas

Namasmarana. -- Design by Exhibition sub-committee.

q       The foundation of the entire exhibition will be the power of the Lord’s Name.  Youth from the entire world will be able to write prayers, shlokas and holy names (on stones) on the walls of the Exhibition campus.

q       At any time, a guest will be afforded the opportunity to write his/her individual way of practicing Namasmarana, which will depict the diversity of youth present, and the universality of faiths.

Selfless Service.  -- Zone 4 (Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, etc.)

q       As the largest kiosk in the Exhibition space, it will have most collaboration with all countries

q       The theme will be "SAI" – Service, Adoration, and Illumination, depicting the journey of youth from Service to Illumination.

q       Various types of service as acts of love will be exhibited through photos and multimedia clips, reflecting the true spirit of service as a manifestation of our sadhana and our passion towards SAI and HIS Mission.

 Practicing a Ceiling on Desires (COD). -- Zone 6 & 7 (Southern & Western Europe)

q       To display various inspiring approaches of how to make the best use of money, food, time, and energy available at our disposal.

q       To demonstrate its tremendous potential, individuals and groups can share their Best Practices and experiences from practicing a "Ceiling on Desires".

q       An example would be to showcase the UK Sai Youth saving money from the COD program, and spending it for selfless service.

Read Swami’s Books/Discourses Daily. Conduct Study Circles.  -- Zone 8 & 9

(UK, Mauritius, S. Africa, Russia)

q       Demonstrations of Swami's powerful messages for youth using multimedia, and other creative presentations.

q       3-dimensional representations of books that have had a great impact on youth, and are suggested for reading; for example, Mahavakya on Leadership and Prema Vahini.

q       Create an atmosphere of study and contemplation.

Practice of Dietary Discipline.  -- Zone 2 (Latin & South Americas)

q       In addition to highlighting a Satwic diet, depict the "food" that we take through all our senses.

q       Demonstrate the importance of the environment we live in, and the effects on our mental, physical, and spiritual health.

q       Make a homemade recipe booklet, including contributions worldwide.

Learn to Speak Softly and Less.  &

Practice Daily Meditation and Prayer.  -- Zone 5 (HongKong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan)

q       Host group interactive sessions of Light Meditation, Sohum Exercise, Circle of Prayer.

q       Visually display the power and benefits of prayer, and practice the art of concentration, showing how it leads to contemplation and meditation.

q       Create an atmosphere of one’s own inner sanctuary of peace and meditation

Take Active Part in Sai Centers (Youth Leadership). -- Zone 1 (USA, Canada, West Indies, Israel)

q       Showcase how youth develop the various aspects of leadership, and examples of successful leadership.

q       Examples will show how youth have inspired one another and how they influence others to accomplish an objective, and direct the team in a way that makes it more cohesive and coherent.

q       Highlight Swami's teachings about "the principles of leadership".

Improve Communication and Interact Respectfully with Parents.  -- Zone 3 (Australia, Fiji, Sri Lanka, etc.)

q       How do human values manifest in the family?

q       How do our daily activities in the home help us interact closely with our parents?  There will be a take home activity for visitors to help practice this point more effectively.

q       How can we interact with Swami as the eternal parent? Host an interactive session to accomplish this.