Sathya Sai Baba Center of Ann Arbor, MI

Welcome to New Center Website! - Sunday, June 07, 2009

Dear Sai Family,

Sairam!
As mentioned a few weeks ago we will use the new Center website for sharing information about Sai Center activities with all the Members and Visitors. Please give us your feedback if you have any questions, concerns or issues. (please see below a query e-mail for you to fill and send out if you would like to share something with us).

Many of you have already registered, but if you haven't please register to access full content. Registration is free. Also, members do not have to pay membership fees or any kind of fees. As you are aware, all programs offered by Sai Center are free for all members and visitors.

Swami's message for the week- HAPPY JANMASHTAMI - Monday, August 30, 2010

Devotees should realize that what matters most is the intensity of feelings. God submits only to the power of the devotee's love. Without love all forms of worship are of no use. That was why the Gopikas appealed to Krishna to fill their parched hearts with the love flowing from His flute so that saplings of love could sprout in their hearts. Devotees entertain sacred thoughts on festival days (like Krishnaashtami). But these are forgotten soon after. They should make every moment holy. Only by this means can the Divine be realized. God is omnipresent, but you are unable to see Him. You see a person. God is the indweller in him. You see his external form and not the Divine in him. But without the power of the Divine how can he exist? You cannot deny the existence of the air all around you, though you cannot see it or grasp it. Likewise God is everywhere but is subtle and invisible. You will experience Him in your heart, when you make it absolutely pure. You must see the Divine in everyone. This is the true trait of a "Saadhu". The wearing of the ochre robe does not make a man a "Saadhu". He must possess the qualities of a "Saadhu". He must be pure-hearted. Transformation of the heart is what is called for. All that you do should lead you nearer to God. When you act in this way nothing bad will touch you. Krishna is omnipresent. The word has three meanings. "Krishithi-ithi Krishna". (The man who ploughs is Krishna). The heart is the symbol of a field. The heart should be cleared of weeds (evil qualities). It should be filled with love. The seeds of the Lord's name should be sown in it. Krishna encourages the devotee to do all this. Divine Discourse: Aug 25, 1997

Weekly update - Monday, August 30, 2010

By our dear Swami’s grace, the bhajans went off well last Thursday . We will have YA and children's bhajans from 7.00pm this week. Please do inform Sister Shilpa of your or child's bhajan this week. It is Krishna ashtami on thursday. Please help them practice all bhajans before it is rendered to Swami. We will have bhajan practice from 6.30pm to 7pm. Please do try to attend the bhajan practice sessions.

ANNOUNCEMENTS MADE AFTER BHAJANS - Thursday, August 26, 2010

Please find below the announcements made after bhajans:

- Sister Adarsh is a grandmother again. Her son and daughter in law were blessed with a baby girl yesterday. Her name is Serena.

- Walk for values: Detroit Center is having their walk for values on 8/28/10 in Shiawasee Park in Farmington from 9am. Sister Latha was there today to invite everyone. Please do register for the walk and attend on Saturday. There will be limited parking in the park, but volunteers will direct everyone from the parking lot to the park. All volunteers please try to be there at 9am. The walk is from the park through the city of Farmington and back. The walk is about 2 miles long. Please do wear the t-shirts that you received at the ann arbor walk.

Please register for the walk www.walkforvaluesusa.org . Please inform your friends and neighbors about this walk and invite them to atttend. We wish Detroit center a lot of success in their walk.

-The website for the Labor day retreat is ready for members to register. Please do register if you are planning to attend the retreat. www.sathyasaicenters.org.

- We will hosting the SSE Teacher's training on September 18th and 19th. The venue is Turner Senior Resource center. The website for the training is ready. Please do register for the event if you are interested in obtaining the training.We will be requesting for help with hosting and food preparation. The number of participants will be approximately 50-55 people. The website for the registeration is ready on www.sathyasaicenters.org.

- We will be hosting the womens health awareness event on September 12th in EMU Student center from 3pm to 7pm. Please find enclosed a flyer with the details of the event. There will be free breast cancer screenings and information sessions on Breast health care, physical health and well being, healthy nutrition, emotional well being and stress management. There will be tables for consultation- dental, medical, physical, safehouse and skincare consultation. Everything is free of cost for everyone. Please pass the word to everyone you know.

-Please let us know if you would like to volunteer in any of the above events in any way. Please share your ideas.

- Please note that there will be a Region wide Rudram Chanting from
Monday, August 30th - Monday, November 22, 2010, Everyday at 9:10 PM local time. Please do try to participate.

Dial-in: 641-715-3900 Access Code : 483515#

SERVICE ACTIVITY UPDATES - Monday, August 09, 2010

Thanks for your donations for the food baskets this thursday after bhajans. The food baskets were be donated to individuals with developmentally disabled on Saturday. If you are interested to donate, please bring non perishable food items Recommended Food Items: Pasta, pasta sauce, canned fruits and vegetables, cereals, cranberry sauce, soups, cookies and other non perishable food items.
We will continue to register members in the bone marrow registry. Please contact any of the officers if you know of anyone who is interested in being on the Bone Marrow registry. For more information on the Bone marrow registry drive please check out the following links: http://www.marrow. org/

SSE Classes update- No SSE in the summer - Monday, May 10, 2010

Please note that we will have no SSE classes in the summer.

Listen to Bhajans on the phone if you cannot attend in person - Tuesday, October 06, 2009

By Swami’s grace, the telephone conference bridge is helpful to devotees who cannot come to bhajans but would like to participate. Please continue to give us your comments and input if you use the teleconference bridge. This will help us to ensure that it is easy and good for everyone. Please remember the number is: 1-712- 775-7100 Participant code: 1059137

SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK - Monday, August 30, 2010

Schedule for this week:

Thursday 9/2/10:

6.30pm to 7pm: Bhajan Practice
7pm to 8pm: Bhajans
8pm to 8.30pm: General body membership meeting

Saturday 9 /4/10:

2.30 to 4.30pm: Hope Nursing Home project.

Gentle Reminders - Monday, August 16, 2010

As you're all aware, the theme for this year's Labor Day retreat is "Finding
God Within". In preparation for the retreat, Brother Prasad sent out a divine discourse on the this topic as study circle material. The article will help with discussions in study circle and help us reach Him within our hearts.

Please contact / e-mail Sister Shilpa or me if would like to sing a bhajan this Thursday. Please remember to come for bhajan practice if you have signed up for a bhajan. Please contact me if you have cannot make it to the practice or the bhajan. Kindly inform me if you cannot make it to the bhajan so that I can have somebody else sing in your place or remove the bhajan from the list.

Please continue to chant the Gayathri mantra 21 times in the morning and evening as a spiritual sadhana.

Please leave bhajan hall silently after the bhajans to maintain the bliss of bhajans.