International Sai Young Adults
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The official SSSIO Young Adults (YA) account where YAs embark on leading purposeful lives by practising the spiritual values of Sri Sathya Sai Baba #saiyoungadults

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In the state of Kerala, the festival Thrissur Pooram (an annual temple festival held every year when the moon rises with the Pooram star in the Malayalam calendar month of Medam) is celebrated on a very big scale and ever since I was a young girl, I always dreamt of being present at the festival to enjoy the joyful festival. However, for some reason, I never had the opportunity to witness the festival.

As I was growing up, I felt very upset as to why Swami was not fulfilling my small wish. Then one night, a miracle happened. Swami came into my dream and held my hands and took me around to visit a beautiful place and it felt as if I was in a big festival. He even described each sight that we came across and He was the guide showing me around. He even let me play with an elephant which looked exactly like Sai Geeta.

When I woke up, I realised that I had visited Thrissur Pooram, and I was blessed to have Swami as my guide on this journey. I felt the joy of the festival more my dream than I would have felt in real life. When I reflected on this, I wondered how I would have managed to go there all by myself. This is how Swami takes care of us. He takes our hands, guides us all through the journey, pampers us with love and blessings and never leaves our hands. (Shwetha, India)

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I was introduced to the International Sai Young Adults events team in 2016 and there are so many memories to be treasured. From having countless sleepless nights, setting up the double-decker building, running around under the scorching summer heat in a saree, and the constant rush were some of the things I now look back on, with such nostalgia, when it came to planning an international event. I feel blessed for the wonderful opportunity to have worked and interacted with hundreds of Sai Young Adults worldwide and to feel His immense Love through every one of them.

One memory that comes to mind is the 2019 Sri Sathya Sai International Leadership Programme (SSSILP) Residential Course that took place in Prasanthi Nilayam. It was the last day and everything that could go wrong, did. The day's agenda was changed multiple times which extended to an hour longer than expected, cutting it extremely close to evening darshan.

The event started and as the time was getting closer to 3.30 pm, the closing ceremony was yet to take place and my anxiety was starting to rise. I restlessly paced around and prayed to Swami to please take care of everything and let this go on as smoothly as possible. At 3:45 pm, the aarthi took place and I broke down as the adrenaline rush subsided. I was filled with the sudden realisation that despite our plan, Swami had beautifully orchestrated it that none of the agenda items had to be cut short and there was sufficient time for the YAs to attend the evening darshan. 

We often feel that we have the power and ability to make things happen, and we forget that Swami is the ultimate doer, and we are just His instruments. He makes us realise that nothing goes against His will, and everything falls into place as He wills. Today, as we step into another year of planning, we bring you the first International Sai Young Adults Online Retreat (IYAR) where Young Adults from around the world will once again come together to unite in His Divine Love and share their journey with our beloved Lord. (Chandni, Indonesia)

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In 2006, I joined the Anantapur campus for my Bachelor’s course in Biosciences. I was so delighted that I got the golden opportunity to study at Swami's university but at the same time, it was the first time that I was away from my family. My mother consoled me and said Swami will take care of everything as His love equals the love of a thousand mothers. 
 
That night, I cried and thought about all the food items that were my favourites and told myself that I am not going to get the opportunity to eat them from now on. However, Swami responded to my request through a dream where He was standing in the middle of the road, smiling at me. He beckoned me and gave me a big key. He pointed towards a big room behind the statue of Buddha on our campus and said “Go, open that door. You have a surprise.” When I opened the door, the room was filled with all my favourite delicacies. Swami said, “Eat till your stomach is full. Whatever you want, I will provide you. Ask me. I am your real mother.” This dream assured me of Swami’s motherly love towards His children. 
 
In 2009, I was selected as a sousaphone player for the college band, and had the opportunity to take Padanamaskar from Swami. When I touched His feet, He said, “theesko" (take!) three times.  In 2012, I was also blessed to give my first speech in Sai Kulwant Hall about the significance of sports and the values that we can imbibe from it. I felt His presence when I stood on the dais and knew that He was going to speak through me. Since then, I promised myself that I would become His messenger of Love to the world.
 
So many years have passed since I graduated but the affection of all the wonderful teachers of the Anantapur campus, the loving seniors, Swami's teachings and discourses that I have heard as a student remain intact in my heart. (Parvathy, USA)
 
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I was not born into a Sai family, nor have I ever been to Prashanti Nilayam. It is only His unconditional love and grace that made me who I am today. I have always been an enthusiastic and energetic person. But there was a period, not too long ago, when I went through a phase of emptiness and disconnect.

My health was deteriorating day by day. The doctors could not figure out what was going on with me. The diagnosis they came up with was that it was a physical condition while others said it was an emotional imbalance, as they did not have any other explanation. Even though the doctors were unsure of my diagnosis, they prescribed various medicines to rule things out. At that time, I was so desperate for a way out and took the prescribed medications however, they gave me severe side effects and left me debilitated.

As a family, we were struggling and that is when my mother came from India to stay and help us out. Both my mother and husband took care of me like I was a newborn child. The only tasks I could do without their help were chanting Vedam daily and hosting weekly bhajans at home. I could not do any other essential tasks and even needed my mother’s help to eat. In her words, “What amazed me the most was that someone who needed help to do basic day to day activities, was ready every Saturday to host bhajans in our home.”

When I look back, I would say that Swami carried me in His arms more than even today. I owe it to only His Grace. I yearn to spend every passing moment with Him and experience His Omnipresence. You are my constant companion, and I would love you selflessly and wholeheartedly with an ever-growing faith. (Poornima, USA)

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Swami has always been a part of my life. When I was six months old, I suddenly fell ill and was losing fluids from my body. My parents consulted various doctors, but nothing seemed to work. Finally giving up all hope, they decided to take me to my grandparent’s place. Just a couple of hours before boarding the train, one of my father’s friends suggested that we consult a particular doctor.

My parents immediately took me to this doctor. He administered the medicines and told my parents that everything would be all right. Carrying the last glimpse of hope, my parents boarded the train as I continued to be sick. The next morning when they reached their destination, they were incredibly surprised to see me laughing and playing with them. Miraculously I was all right. My grandparents were pleasantly surprised to meet us.

Looking back at this incident, I realised that it must have been Swami, and Swami only, who sent this friend to our home and directed us. Incidentally, the name of the doctor who saved my life was Dr Satyanarayana.

However, the incident that brought our family into the Sai fold was after my sister was born. She was about 1.5 years old when she was suffering from an acute cough and cold. She was finding it extremely hard to breathe and was constantly crying. She was turning blue due to the lack of oxygen and my mother could no longer see her suffering. My mother had heard about Swami and the power of vibuthi (holy ash) through a friend and its ability to cure anything. She asked my father and I to get the vibuthi from her friend. As soon as my mother placed the vibuthi in my sister’s mouth, she instantly stopped crying and started sleeping peacefully.

I am eternally thankful to Swami and my loving family. Through this incident Swami came into our lives. (Lakshmi, USA)

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I dozed off while waiting for darshan and I woke up to the commotion around me only to realise that Swami had entered the Sai Kulwant Hall for darshan. Swami was on the dais getting ready to speak. I took a moment to compose myself, closed my eyes, and prayed, “Swami, do not start yet. I have heard your voice various times in recordings, I know what your voice sounds like, but it is the first time that my ears are about to be blessed with your Divine voice in real life.”

I paused to see what Swami was doing and He was drinking water very slowly. I continued to pray, “Everyone and everything in the ashram will be blessed by your voice and its vibrations. Swami, I am now ready, you can start with Prema Swa…(Embodiments of Love).” Before I could finish my sentence, Swami started the discourse with ‘Atma Swarupalara’ (Embodiments of Divine Atma). During the discourse, He mentioned that a person's hand has five fingers. He further elaborated on how the other four fingers struggle to function as one unit without the thumb and how the thumb is not closely attached to the other fingers by being on its own. Hence, Swami encouraged all devotees to be like the thumb to be a part of society but yet not be attached. 

Throughout the years, the hand analogy has been my constant reminder regarding attachment to the material world only to understand that there is another aspect to attachment that Swami mentioned, namely attachment to thoughts. 

Attachment can dismantle all efforts put towards any sadhana (spiritual exercise) or a person’s physical, emotional, or psychological wellbeing. A constant reminder for me of non-attachment to thoughts is self-acceptance and self-love. Seeking happiness from within is of prime importance to find the Atma (soul). (Hema, USA)

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When I was about 5 years old, my mother would always tell me that “Amma and Appa (Mother and Father) may not always be there for you, but Swami will always be there for you.” In all honesty, I then thought that she was crazy, but it was only about 13 years later that I realised the profound truth in her words.

I had just graduated high school in India and was set, both in my mind and heart, to come to the United States for my undergraduate studies. I did not directly get admission into a university, instead, I chose to go to a community college and then transfer to a university to get my degree. Due to this, I had to build my entire life up, piece by piece, to figure out everything, from food to accommodation.

My mother used to teach in a high school and coincidentally, one of her student's family had just moved to Houston and she was able to get in touch with them. Just a few days before my departure, we were able to connect with the family. It turned out that his father was in Chennai, where I am from, to care for his parents. Uncle gave me a prepaid mobile SIM card which I could use to contact my family as soon as I land in the United States. Swami planned it all so well.

Once I landed in Houston, I contacted aunty, she helped me to settle in and introduced me to the Sri Sathya Sai Center of Houston, which became my second home. I immediately felt at home with my Sai brothers and sisters and of course received so much unconditional love, support, and home-cooked food. Truly, Swami has showered me with the love and care of thousands of mothers. (Sai Prashanth, USA)

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I started singing Sai bhajans at the tender age of four and one of the first bhajans I learned was an offering to little Krishna. My imagination was further kindled by my grandmother’s stories of little Gopal and my childlike imagination would allow me to run wild with Krishna on green pastures with His young calves. One of the most incredible discoveries I made was that the cows were very dear to Krishna and He would protect them from demons and was even ready to give up His life for the cows. One of Swami’s first projects was to set up a Gokulam at Puttaparthi as He dearly loved and honoured the cows as mothers and would personally select a unique saree for each cow.

When the pandemic hit us, I was incredibly blessed to volunteer with farm rescue sanctuaries. We started rescuing newborn orphan calves, baby goats, and old spent cows from traumatic situations. Sometimes we urgently rescued a calf by placing them in the backseat of our cars. Raising orphan calves was a very challenging task and Swami was constantly holding my hand through beautiful dreams and miracles. Once in a dream, He even transformed Himself into a beautiful animal to show that He is the indweller of all beings. We rescued about 23 cows and 9 goats. The pregnant cows and goats gave birth to beautiful offspring at the sanctuary and it was so heartwarming and fulfilling to see them raise their calves in peace.

I often think about the promised ‘Golden Age’ and sincerely feel that we can truly usher in this age of love by expressing our sincere gratitude to these beautiful beings through service. As Swami once said it is our supreme duty to protect the animals and not treat them just like commodities. All His life, Swami lived this example by showing great love towards all animals. (Sai Santosh, USA)

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Ever since I was six years old, Swami has played a significant role in my life. Since I was a child, life has not been easy as I was raised by a single parent who had to work multiple jobs to provide for me. We stayed at my grandmother’s home who helped to sustain us. As a child, I also suffered from a reading disability which affected me throughout my life and made it challenging for me to study at school. Attending the Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) classes at an early age helped me. When I was young, I did not see the value in attending these classes at all. I did not realise how Swami helped me battle through the pain that I was going through at that time.

Now that I am a young adult, I understand the reason why Swami guided me on this path. He has moulded me into a person who can inspire others going through similar issues in their lives. Even though I struggled as a child, I have still been able to achieve success in my studies by graduating with honours in high school and obtaining admission to college to pursue a four-year degree. I thank Swami for this opportunity and all the things that I have learned in SSE. If not for His positive insight into my life, I would not be the person that I am today. I know this is not the end and am looking forward to the next chapters of my life. One of my favourite quotes from Swami, that has stayed with me ever since I was a little girl, is “Life is a challenge, meet it! Life is a dream, realise it! Life is a game, play it! Life is love, enjoy it!” For me, this quote means to enjoy everything that I have in life and not to take anything for granted. (Savina, USA)

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I was working abroad years ago and one of my colleagues, who also happens to be a Sai devotee gifted me a book on Swami. While reading the book, I came across the concept of Self-realisation. At that time, I did not dwell on the subject, but this idea of Self-realisation was reinforced when I witnessed my Ammamma (grandmother) breathing her last breath. I thought to myself that the ultimate goal of this life is Self-realisation.

In 2016, I visited the Kalpa Vriksha (wish-fulfilling) tree in Puttaparthi. While I was there, I thought deeply about how I wanted to learn about Self-realisation. Two years later, I found myself with a group of like-minded young adults serving Swami in the Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana of Love Subcommittee.

The subcommittee's main focus was centred around Self-confidence, Self-satisfaction, self-sacrifice, and Self-realisation which is also known as the 4S. My wish of being on the path to Self-realisation was fulfilled. Being in the subcommittee has helped me to better understand Swami's teachings on the 4S as I am learning throughout this journey about Self-realisation.

There have been instances in my life when things have not turned out as I have planned and when this happens, I get stressed and anxious. Last year, there was a time when despite putting effort into a particular task assigned to me, I was not seeing the results I had expected. One fine morning, I dreamt that Swami handed me a sweet. Through this dream, I realised that Swami gave me His Divine assurance that I need not worry about the results of undertaking any particular task for Him, for He is the Doer, and I am but a mere instrument.

Thank you, Swami, for making your Divine timing prevail in every aspect of my life and for having the best plans in store for me. (Yakshi, Mauritius)

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