Our "Journey to Sai”

A Road Map for the Sai Youth of Sri Lanka 2009-10

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Introduction

The love and grace bestowed by our beloved Bhagavan Baba at the World Youth Conference 2007 transformed and supported many youth in pursuing their spiritual journeys with love, faith, enthusiasm and commitment. The Sai Youth of Sri Lanka (SYS) have been yearning to be in the Divine presence of Bhagavan Baba once more to show our love and gratitude, and receive His guidance and blessings. With humble prayers that Bhagavan would permit and be pleased by an undertaking by the Sai Youth of Sri Lanka to visit His divine presence at Parthi in August/September 2010, a sadhana process has been mapped out in a Road Map document and is divided into four parts:

§  Individual Sadhana Proposition

§  Collective Sadhana Proposition

§  Regional and National Youth Conferences

§  Service Programme

Individual Sadhana Proposition and Collective Sadhana Proposition. The first two parts consist of a number of spiritual ideals and sadhana practices to be undertaken by the SYS at individual and collective levels. The purpose of these is to strengthen our devotion to Bhagavan and cultivate love which would consistently transcend our thoughts, words and actions to recognise and realise God in all elements and all beings.

Regional and National Youth Conferences and Service Programs. The second half part of this process will consist of mini regional workshops where the SYS in a region would be able to come together and share their experience and engage in good practice to motivate and encourage one another in their spiritual journey towards self realisation, followed by a national conference. To support our thinking a wider spiritual audience including spiritual leaders and elders, and a select group of members of the International Sai Youth Community will be invited to these workshops with due guidance and approval.

This paper constitutes the road map for the four propositions outlined above.

The Vision

To enhance our faith and love for our dear Lord Sai and support the development of spiritual ideals and practices for the SYS to lead an ideal life. 

Overall Objective

The Sadhana process leading to the proposed Youth Conferece and Parthi trip will contribute to a higher consciousness of the Inner Divine in heart, which will make the youth live in and radiate Sathya Sai spiritual ideals

Specific Outputs

The road map will seek to broadly define the “What”, “How”, “Where” and “With Whom” the sadhana programme will be undertaken whilst a youth steering committee will be the focus of planning and coordinating the sadhana programme and organizing the administrative and logistical arrangements for the implementation of the sadhana plan leading up to the Parthi trip.  To this end the road map will focus on the following key areas that will form the basis of sadhana programme for the next year.

§  Priority areas for the sadhana programme and where youth can most benefit spiritually (what we will do)

§  Approach and ways of working (how we will work together)

Plan of Action – Outlined below is a draft plan for comment.

Goal one: Undertake sadhana (spiritual discipline) as an integral part of daily life that enables the youth to develop spiritual oneness with the inner divinity, and cultivate love and peace within.

“Transformation must begin with the individual. When the individual changes, the world will change. This transformation has to take place in the minds of men. Right thoughts will lead to right actions. That is why the scriptures have declared that the mind is the cause of man’s bondage and liberation”. (Bhagavan Baba: Sathya Sai Baba Vol 3 1991 Edition Page 359)

“Man seeks worldly pleasures and prosperity; but does not seek that inner divinity which gives him permanent happiness”. (SSS Vol XI Page 371)

“The greatness of any individual depends upon the reform of his character. It does not depend upon his power, money, or position. Thus, you must try first to increase the good qualities or virtues in you”. (SSS Vol XX Page 151)

This would involve the practice of human values through the nine point code of conduct as per the charter of the Sai Organization, ensuring harmony in thought, word and deed and undertaking a comprehensive effort on ceiling on desires in all aspects of day to day life.

1. PRACTICE NAMASMARANA – CHANTING OF THE LORD’S NAME

2. READ SWAMI’S DISCOURSES/BOOKS DAILY, AND CONDUCT WEEKLY YOUTH  STUDY CIRCLES

3. ENGAGE IN SELFLESS SERVICE ACTIVITY AS A GROUP

4. PRACTICE OF DIETARY DISCIPLINE

5. LEARN TO SPEAK SOFTLY AND SPEAK LESS

6. TAKE ACTIVE PART IN SAI CENTRES

7. IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AND INTERACT RESPECTFULLY WITH PARENTS

8. PRACTICE CEILING ON DESIRES BY NOT WASTING FOOD, MONEY, ENERGY, TIME AND KNOWLEDGE.

9. PRACTICE DAILY MEDITATION AND PRAYER

Goal two: Learn to share divine love and bliss with all.

“You must take all troubles needed to seek satsang and remain therein. For, it is not being born a man that is sign of glory. It is living as man that confers the dignity” (SSS Vol XIII Page 87)

“ Whether an individual, or a village or a nation has to develop, social consciousness and a sense of unity are essential”. (Bhagavan Baba)

This would involve building on the power of association as SYS and keeping good company of the spiritual aspirants in order to cultivate unity and active awareness in the spirit of worship of the Divine and as an offering to the Divine. 

§  Adapt a spiritual book, “Geetha Vahini” as a source of regular reading and satsang every fortnight.

§  Compile a comprehensive report on SYS service activities and articles of prayers expressing the intent of visiting Bhagavan in 2010.

§  Encourage creative writing and public speaking activities with a focus on stories from Bhagavan’s youth and our aspirations to be ‘Ideal Sai Youth’.

§  Produce an audio cd with devotional songs from SYS to be blessed by and in dedication to Bhagavan Baba.

Goal three: Contribute towards collective transformation of the SYS through series of workshops and by keeping good company.

“You must realise by constant contemplation, that the world is the body of God. And, you are the cell, in that body. The prosperity of the world is your prosperity; feel so, act in that spirit; think in those terms. That is the real spirituality. The sadhak can claim progress only when he has established in himself faith in the ones of humanity”. (SSS Vol XX Page 62)

§  A series of mini regional conferences with Sai youth across the country. (Northern regional Sai Youth Conference scheduled for 1^st week of September, Central & Eastern regional Sai Youth Conferences – tbc)

§  A National Sai Youth Conference scheduled for June 2010.

Goal four: Undertake planned service programme to expand love and help to serve others in society.

“ A wave of service, if it sweeps over the land, catching everyone in its enthusiasm, will be able to wipe off the mounds of hatred, malice, and greed that infest the world”. (SSS Vol XXVIII Page 282)

§  Each region will develop a comprehensive action plan for regular and one-off service activities, thus providing opportunities for all the local Sai youth to get involved at multiple levels.

Timeline

The sadhana programme will be planned and implemented from August 2009 to September 2010.

Approach and ways of working

SYS Steering Committee: A SYS Steering Committee will be formed to plan, coordinate and monitor the sadhana programme for the next year. The committee would include the national youth coordinator, regional youth representatives, and focal points for each of the four key areas of sadhana programme. The committee would receive guidance and advisory support from the Central Council and the select group of International Sai youth community and elders. The group would meet on a monthly basis or as necessary and regional members would join the discussion via teleconference. The committee has an essential function of providing leadership and encouragement for the SYS in pursuing an active sadhana plan. The committee would also be responsible for organizing the administrative and logistic arrangements for the Parthi trip.

A comprehensive sadhana plan would be developed for each of the four key areas of sadhana programme to provide more information and guidance to the SYS.

The regional Sai youth representatives would be responsible for developing detailed action plans for the implementation of the sadhana programme in their respective regions.

Milestones

The key milestones of our Journey to Sai are summarised below.

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