Transcript Slide 1

Aum Sri Sai Ram
New Officers Orientation
Overview of Sai Center
Young Adult Program
Sathya Sai Baba Centers
North Central Region (Region 5)
Saturday March 21, 2009
Sathya Sai Young Adults
Agenda

Who are Young Adults?

Swami’s quotes about the Young Adult Program

An overview of the Young Adult Guidelines - USA

Upcoming programs: Sai National Youth Conference
Sathya Sai Young Adults

Wing of the Sathya Sai Organization


Age Range: 18-35
Young Individuals from all backgrounds and stages of life:





Students
Professionals
Parents
Householders
Goal to practice Swami’s teachings:
LOVE ALL SERVE ALL
HELP EVER HURT NEVER
Purpose of YA Groups



To encourage young adults to lead purposeful lives by
learning and practicing spiritual values as defined and
established by the life, message, and works of Sathya
Sai Baba.
To provide forums for young adults of like mind to
meet and to discuss issues in leading spiritual lives in
today's world.
To enhance, not interfere with, harmony and
understanding in family relationships and within the Sai
Organization.
“The future of the country depends on the skill
and the sincerity of the youth. Therefore, the
necessary enthusiasm and encouragement must
be generated among the youth. All my hopes
are based on the students, the youth. They are
very dear to me.”
Sathya Sai Baba, Sathya Sai Speaks IX (old edition), 34, 184.
REQUIRED FORMAT FOR GROUPS



Males and females conduct in the same manner
as prescribed by the Sai Organization
They may convene for the same meeting, but sit
separately
Males and females may join in service projects,
but maintain discipline in their interaction with
one another
REQUIRED FORMAT FOR GROUPS –
CONTD.



Dress code is modest, same as prescribed by the
USA Central Council
Meetings consist of regular study of Sai’s
teachings, service projects, and devotional
content.
Make a conscious effort to promote unity of
religions and cultures
Structure

YA National Team
YA Advisor: Dr. Joe Phaneuf
 YA Reps: Sangeeta Lekhi, Daniel Scovill


YA Regional Team
YA Advisors: Madhuri Lucas, Sai Diwakar
 YA Reps: Geetha Govindarajan, Vick Advaney


YA Local (Center) Teams
1 Female Rep
 1 Male Rep

Role of YA Rep




Help foster an environment for spiritual growth
Help create a good bond between the YAs for a
healthy group
Inspire the YA groups to participate and lead
service activities
Keep the YA groups up to date with the
activities of the region and the country
Integration with Sai Center
YAs should participate in all activities of the local Sai
Center

Use your gift of Youth to serve at the Center
 General: Set-up & Clean-up, A/V, Center Meetings
 SSE – work with Educational Coordinator & SSE children
 Devotion: Lead singing bhajans including English &
Spanish
 Service: Participating in Center Service Projects
 Working on new ideas with Center Officers
YA Groups are not separate from the Sai Center
Sai National Youth Conference

Why NYC?

Pre-Conference Initiatives

Blessing to Host in our Region
Sai NYC – Why?

Unity

Inspiration

Beyond 2 day conference

Journey To Sai
Sai NYC – Pre Conference Initiatives

4 Disciplines to practice:

Gayatri Chanting


Meditation


Direct vision inward; calm mind
Ceiling on Desires


Channel Divine Energy
Remove attachment that separates us from inner divinity
Living Service

Attitude & Action
Sai NYC - Program

Sessions for Youth, led by Youth

Content for YAs in all stages of life

Interact & Learn from Youth from all around
the country
Sai NYC - Hosting

Hosted by Region 5 in Chicago

Camp Duncan - Ingleside, IL (close to Camp Henry
Horner)

Blessing to Host Swami’s children (over 300?)
Teams
Athithi Devo Bhava
Looking Ahead

Post NYC


National Initiatives
EHV

Work with Creta Schiermann (SSEHV Coordinator)
on proposal for EHV projects in the community
Sai Young Adults – Closing
Thoughts

Make the most of your Youth


Serve ALL the time!
Opportunity to transform yourself
“I am present in all of you. Since I know this truth, I
have faith in you. But you consider yourself
separate from me, and so your faith is not strong,
deep, and unwavering. In fact, I can change you all
by Myself. But I don't do it that way. I want to
bring about your transformation through and by
you” - BABA