General Announcements
- A) Guru Poornima celebrations – 2022 (please RSVP)
- July-13th, Wednesday – Bhajans 6:30 to 8:00 PM at HSNC cultural hall rooms 3,4,5 & 6
- July-17th, Sunday Guru Poornima offering – Program schedule details are available in the flyer
Please RSVP at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4baaac22aafec70-gurupoornima
3. If interested to volunteer for food and altar setup, please visit following link: Please signup for Food and Altar setup
B) July 2022 -Breakfast supplies to support Raleigh Men’s shelter
Monthly breakfast supplies to support Raleigh Men’s shelter. Please drop off items at 719 McRae Rd, Cary on Friday July 15th by 7pm so volunteers can deliver to shelter next day morning.C) Personal hygiene care kits to Cumberland county seniors (Guru Poornima 2022 service project)With Swami’s Grace, we are planning to supply personal hygiene care kits to Cumberland county seniors on the occasion of Guru Poornima 2022 celebrations. Please sign up for the items listed in the spreadsheet below.D) Center activities :
- Setup: 3:15 PM to 4:00 PM
- Study Circle: 4:00 to 5:00
- Bhajans: 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
RSC Library:
- The Vahinis Online, written by Sri Sathya Sai Baba
- See list of books available. If you would like to borrow a book, please contact Prabhakar at hpkamath11@gmail.com or text 919-561-3465, listing the name(s) of the Book(s) interested in borrowing and the time and date you would like to pick up. Address: 1961 Weaver Forest Way, Morrisville. Anyone wishing to return a currently borrowed book, can drop off the book at the front door box. Please write your full name on a piece paper and put it in back of the book. Sairam!
Power of Prayer
It is good to remember Swami’s guidance to remain calm in all situations. We need to follow the guidance of our national and local medical and infectious disease experts. We should remember that prayers are very powerful. The Sai Gayatri mantra as well as the Gayatri mantra is being chanted by Sai devotees around the world for the welfare of humanity. Let us all be united and pray with intensity as often as possible. This is an important spiritual practice which can alleviate this global health threat due to the Coronavirus.
Devotion
- Sai Center Activities Schedule
Center Activities on Sunday (HSNC Class room # 3, 4, 5 and 6)
Setup: 3:15 PM to 4:00 PM
Study Circle: NO Study Circle
Bhajan Practice : 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Open Bhajans: 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
- Study CircleSwami talks specifically, about the Hridaya Kshetra at 21min :25 seconds and again at 24:46This is a truly amazing discourse and it is advisable for the group to read the entire book that includes all the discourses.Many of them, but not all of them can be accessed here:
- Bhajan of the week
Deity: Sai
Raag: BageshriTaal: 8 Beat / Keherwa / Adi
Daya Karo Hey Karuna Nidhan SaiTum Ho Daata Daya KaroTum Ho Sai Krupa KaroPrabhu Tum Sai AntaryamiParthi Puri Bhagawan (2)Tum Ho Daata Daya Karo [ Tum Ho… ]Lyrics:
Meaning:
Oh Lord Sai, the treasure house of Grace and compassion, kindly bless us with Your mercy. You are the ever-giver, please bestow on us Your mercy. Oh Lord Sai, You are the indweller of hearts. Oh resident of Parthi, bestow on us Your grace and mercy.
Video Link:
Service
- RSC Service ActivitiesNEW ANNOUNCEMENT(S)! :* July 2022 -Breakfast supplies to support Raleigh Men’s shelterMonthly breakfast supplies to support Raleigh Men’s shelter. Please drop off items at 719 McRae Rd, Cary on Friday July 15th by 7pm so volunteers can deliver to shelter next day morning.* Personal hygiene kit supply to Cumberland county seniors (Guru Purnima 2022 service project)With Swami’s Grace, we are planning to supply personal hygiene kits to Cumberland county seniors on the occasion of Guru Purnima 2022 celebrations. Please sign up for the items listed in the spreadsheet below.
To participate in other active service projects, please see list below.
Service name and Date/time Service Activity Details Locations & Sign up IFC Sunday Food Service (Every alternate Sunday) Preparing Dinner at Volunteer homes & Dropping it off at Inter-Faith Council for Social Service(IFC) at Carrboro, NC by 1 PM IFC address: 100 W. Main St. Carrboro, NC
Please click here to sign up for Sunday.
IFC Thursday Food Service (Every alternate Thursday) Preparing Dinner at Volunteer homes & Dropping it off at Inter-Faith Council for Social Service(IFC) at Carrboro, NC by 3 PM. IFC address: 100 W. Main St. Carrboro, NC
Please click here to sign up for Thursday.
SAI Tutoring Program
Volunteers provide weekly one to one tutoring via Zoom to an underserved elementary school student from the Durham Public School district. The focus is on ELA and math enrichment and also providing mentorship. NOTE: Please contact service@raleighsaicenter.org if you are interested in getting involved.
Growing Sai’s Love – Garden project
RSC’s pilot program Growing Sai’s Love to help our Sai Community members get more self-reliant by learning to grow their own fresh, healthy vegetables, fruits, flowers, in their backyard. Members can also use these for service and center activities. NOTE: Please contact service coordinator service@raleighsaicenter.org if you would like to participate in this service.
Raleigh Men’s shelter Breakfast service – Supplies
Monthly Breakfast service on 3rd Saturday to support Raleigh Men’s Shelter. Please drop off items at 719 McRae Rd, Cary on 3rd Friday of the month by 7pm so volunteers can deliver supplies at the shelter on Saturday morning. NOTE: Due to COVID, at this time we are only supplying materials/ingredients.
Recycling project
Recycling project that involves used batteries, medication(s), small electronics and bulbs. NOTE: Please contact service coordinator service@raleighsaicenter.org if you would like to participate in this service. Pediatric Clinic Food Distribution Project
This bi-weekly project involves distributing grocery bags to Lincoln Community Health Center Pediatric Clinic’s families in need. Any identified family visiting the pediatric clinic who is facing food insecurity will be given a grocery bag filled with dry/canned goods as well as a list of local food resources in the Durham area. Signup sheet has instructions and Grocery list
Food drive for Inter-faith Food Shuttle, Durham by Group 3 SSE Students every month Group 3 SSE students form leads in their communities and conduct food drive. Please contact Group 3 teachers for more information. Collected food will be delivered during first week of every month at
Inter-faith Food Shuttle
2436 S. Miami Blvd, Suite 200-9
Durham, NC
SSE
- Pre-SSSE
CLASS DATE: 04/24/2022 TEACHERS: Patti Mona, Saideepa, Lakshmi, Bhuvana SUMMARY: God is Love ATTENDANCE: 12 We started the class with 3 Oms and Gayatri. We visited with Swami in our heart and invited Him to our class. Today our teachers talked to us about ‘Love’. Patti said that ‘God is Love.’ Patti also talked to us about Swami’s quote: ‘Start the day with love, Spend the day with love, End the day with love.’Today was the last day of our virtual class. All the teachers entertained us with singing , dancing, acting like animals, making yummy snack. It was so much fun to come to Pre-SSSE class every Sunday from 9:45 to 10:45. We will miss the routine in summer. Next Sunday we will be getting together at HSNC in person to practice our dance for Easwaramma Day program.
- SSSE group1
CLASS DATE: 4/10/2022
TEACHER(S): Aruna, Resmi, Sharanya, Sunitha.
Value: Love
Kindness towards nature (water conservation)
Attendance: 15/37 Class of 4/10/2022
We began with 3 AUMs , chanted Sai Gayathri and Asathoma Sadgamaya followed by bhajan (https://sairhythms.sathyasai.org/song/we-bow-him-who-removes-all-obstacles)
Followed by thumb meditation. We discussed life application on water conservation and concluded lesson plan on water sense . Next, we talked about Easwaramma day celebration, why it’s celebrated as children’s day with cultural offerings by SSSE children and shared pictures of Easwaramma day celebration in Sai Centers around the world. We also talked about how it’s not just a presentation on stage but a humble offering filled with love and gratitude to our dear Swami and mother Easwaramma and we discussed the importance of practice and how it helps build confidence when we put in sincere effort. We also narrated a Swami experience which explains how Swami always recognized sincere efforts.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AiKGr1kZLis&t=24s
Announcement: please follow the respective whats app group for Easwaramma day practice / recording sessions.
Life Application: children will continue to fill the table they created in the previous class and see the changes as they get more mindful about water usage now.
- SSSE-Group2
CLASS DATE:
03/20/22
TEACHERS: Hitha, Jagruti, and Deepthi
Eashwaramma Day preparation as a team
ATTENDANCE: 25/31
Summary of Today’s class:
We started our class with Omkar 3 times and our activities – Chanting of Gayathri Mantra, reading out its meaning, and Jyothi Meditation.
Life Application: Sharing time from last class
- Take a jar/box or any plastic container
- AWARENESS of GOD being Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient
- Add FAITH & TRUST
- And continue to respond with LOVE and empty your Jar
- If your jar is already empty continue to add colorful beads with love.
- Show your jar and share your experience with the class
E- Day brain storming as a team:
A very productive discussion as team and we have a plan to execute it and assign the roles and students finalizing the start to the start to completion of the 30 min presentation.
Swami’s quote:
Do Good. Be Good and see Good. Do Everything with Love.
LIFE APPLICATION:
- Take a jar/box or any plastic container
- AWARENESS of GOD being Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient
- Add FAITH & TRUST
- And continue to respond with LOVE and empty your Jar
- If your jar is already empty continue to add colourful beads with love.
- Show your jar and share your experience with the class
- Important information regarding Eashwaramma day celebrations on Sunday May 8th
- Please make sure you know its a in person celebration from group 2 we sure are requested if the parents not ok with students performing in person please let us know. 3/20/22 we will be finalizing the presentation and the roles will be assigned goo.
Affirmation: Individually each student shared and wrote their affirmation for the day.
Closing prayers: The class was concluded by chanting three times “Samastha Lokaah Sukhino Bhavantu” and Shanti”- May all the beings in all worlds be happy and peaceful.If you have any questions feel free to approach any of the teachers. Looking forward to our next class.
Sai Ram
Note: Shivaratri bhajan in the center refer Raleigh sai center News letter for details.
Click Here for Previous Class Notes
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- SSSE-Group3
CLASS DATE: 03/13/2022 TEACHER(S): Nalini, Gangadhar
SUMMARY: Stress Management
ATTENDANCE: 14 Sairam Parents,
Today (03/13), in our class we have our group 3 student, Ananya Mettu presented on the topic “Stress Management”. She presented on what causes stress, tips to manage it, Swami’s quotes on the same, short videos etc. Then we discussed about various techniques we follow in our day-to-day life. Attached is the presentation deck.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1t6OsmgmC6viNVhygtXJW8DgZ5FoDRcSpUUswMKRklg4/edit?usp=sharing
Sairam
Group 3 Teachers
- SSSE-Group4
CLASS DATE: April 10th, 2022
TEACHER(S): Sai Y., Nirmala Aunty, Mouli SUMMARY: Group 4 SSSE Class for 2021-2022 Year
ATTENDANCE:
13
Main topic:
SaiRam, in the April 10th SSSE Group 4 class (13 Group Students attended), we met in person at the HSNC hall, Room 10 and started with chanting 3 OMs and then reviewed and discussed – SAI Tutoring Update which the majority of Group 4 students are participating as tutors, Sai Samarpan article offerings due date of Sunday April 17th, and upcoming Service Projects – Rise Against Hunger and Morrisville Stream Cleaning. We then went into this week’s interactive class workshop led by Sai Y. which was on Time Management and Stress Management. The discussions focused on Swami’s perspectives on Time Management and then How students managed their time, how they prioritize things getting done, what takes longest to get done, what are main distractions. Then, discussions were focused on Stress Management Strategies and importance of Habit Stacking. Class was concluded with OM and 3 Shanthi’s.
Thanks, and JAI SAI RAM!
Note to Parents:
Sairam Parents –
Group 4 will have and our final class for this SSSE term on Sunday, April 24th at 3:30pm at HSNC. Thanks.
-Group 4 Gurus
Jai Sai Ram!
Young Adults (YA) Updates
GAYATHRI BEADS BRACELET SERVICE
SERVICE TO MAN IS SERVICE TO GOD
Sairam,
We will chant and energize beads using the power of Gayathri Mantra, make them into bracelets and offer it to people in need like hospital patients and people in senior care homes.
Steps to follow:
TAKE ONE BEAD IN YOUR HAND
CHANT GAYATHRI MANTHRA 108 TIMES WHILE HOLDING THE BEAD
AFTER CHANTING 108 TIMES, PRAY THIS BEAD HELP SOMEONE
KEEP THIS ENERGIZED BEAD SAFELY IN A SEPARATE BAG FROM THE OTHER BEADS
PRAY AND ENERGIZE AS MANY AS POSSIBLE
ONCE READY, EMAIL ya@raleighsaicenter.org TO DELIVER AND RECEIVE MORE BEADS
BEADS WILL BE CONVERTED TO BRACELETS AND GIVEN TO HOSPITAL PATIENTS OR SENIOR CARE HOMES
Seniors Corner
Seniors group :
RSC Seniors Group is planning to make the Vibuthi Packets for distribution during Aradhana Day, Easwaramma Day, Guru Poornima and Swami’s birthday celebrations. Our Senior Group is doing this as a spiritual sadhana of writing “Aum Sri Sairam” on one side of the paper and then cut the paper into four parts, include vibuthi in the unwritten side and fold the paper to make vibuthi packets for distribution.Some members of the Senior Group are meeting virtually on Thursday afternoons at 3:00 pm to discuss the application of Swami’s messages in their everyday lives. If you are interested in participating in the virtual meetings or to participate in seva activities with senior’s, please email: seniors@raleighsaicenter.org
Interest Groups Updates
Go Green Group – Tips
(REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE, RE PURPOSE, RECYCLE)
See all interest groups available.
Regional Update
Please see all the regional announcements in the below link
https://sssgc-usa.org/all-announcements-page
Media Repository
The media repository for all past events is now available in our main page under this link. If you need the password, please email info@raleighsaicenter.org
Sai Center Officers
Officer Role
Name
Email Address
President
Senthil Kumar
president@raleighsaicenter.org
Vice-President
Gopal Somu
vp@raleighsaicenter.org
Education (SSSE) Co-ordinator
Aruna Shankar
education@raleighsaicenter.org
Devotional Co-ordinator
Shubha Nagaraj
devotion@raleighsaicenter.org
Service Co-ordinator
Param Dasana
service@raleighsaicenter.org
YA Co-ordinator
Sayee Shruti Manickam
ya@raleighsaicenter.org
If you have any questions, please email the respective office bearer. Click here to access their phone numbers (password protected).
Thought for the Week
The weeping child must later leave this world laughing; the worth of life is to be judged by how one feels when one nears their end! Love is the seed, and devotion is the seedling, the sapling. Faith is the manure, company of the good is the rain, offering of the Self is the flower, and merging together is the fruit. With that, one must throw off this coil and become free. Gita advises renunciation of action, that is to say, karma without attachment to the fruits thereof. Some karma must be done as duties, related to status in worldly life, and if these are done in the proper spirit, they will not bind at all! Do all karma as actors in a play, keep your identity separate and ensure you are not attaching yourself too much to your role. Remember that the whole thing is just a play, and the Lord has assigned to you a part. Act well your part, and there all your duty ends. He designed the play, and He enjoys it! – Divine Discourse, Sep 27, 1960. – BABA