choose a path, any path, said god…all roads end where ... newsletter first...page 7 of 10 sri...

of 10 Sri Sathya Sai Baba Center, East Brunswick, SSE Winter 2014

Never be afraid of anything because God is in you, with you, above you,

around you. He follows you like a shadow. Never forget Him.

-Sri Sathya Sai Baba

I am behind you, before you – Choose a path, any path, said God…All roads end

where they begin, and each will take us home. Just choose, keep walking, and

remember how much I love you. I will be there as you go forward and I’ll be there

when you look back.

- Heather K.

O’Hara


Sairam Dear Readers, With Swami’s blessings, we, a few students and teachers of the East Brunswick SSE program have been working this past week on this Sample Newsletter that we can collaborate and create.

Share And Inspire - SAI (Share our understanding of Swami, His teachings and inspire each other)

4 Newsletters in a year - Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall or 6 Newsletters in a year - 1

for each Human Value and 1 to summarize all.

1. Cover Page 2. Comedy Corner or SAI Humor 3. Art from our Heart 4. Songs from our Soul 5. Poems to Ponder 6. Stories from our Dreams 7. Teacher’s Corner 8. FAQs on Spirituality 9. Seva Scoop

We would love to present this to the rest of the SSE students and teachers to contribute to the current and future editions of this offering. Based on the feedback, we will decide on a theme and consistent release of the Newsletter. Swami, this is a new path we are holding hands and walking. We know you will be there with us every step of the way, guiding us. We offer our loving prayers to you Swami. Love and Jai Sairam, Newsletter Team


Word play by Bhagawan

Technology =Trick knowledge

Technology, today, is

basically doing tricks with

knowledge


Peace

Peace can be calmness, silence, and non-violence

Peace is within us, we all just need to spread it

Aim for Peace every moment in your life

Everyone can be at peace and make the world a happier place

- Writing by Saket Ram (Group 1B) and Illustrated by Sathvik Ram (Nursery)

Life

"Life is like a race. It throws hurdles at you. You have to jump over those hurdles and move on. No matter how many hurdles there are, there will

always be that time when you cross the finish line and say, “I did it.”

- Writing and Illustration by Alankrita Murari (Group 2A)

Right Conduct

Don't yelp while you help

You should do it with pride

With love and compassion always worldwide

Start when you're grown

When you're mature and you've known

When you do a lot of service

You'll never be alone!

-Siddharth Srinivasan (Group 2B)


A Beautiful Dream:

This how my dream started . . . In a temple, an uncle who I know was singing a beautiful Krishna

bhajan. Suddenly all the Gods and Goddesses; Devas and Devis appeared. All of them except Swami

and Shirdi Baba. Lord Krishna mischievously went to one of the Sai brothers and asked him, “Where

is your flute?” The Sai brother who usually plays flute in our center replied “I left it at home,”

Krishna gave this Sai brother His flute and told him to play it! Then Swami came. Swami turned

into Shirdi Baba. Then Shirdi Baba turned into Swami. Swami went to my mom and made a

necklace and put it on her. Then Swami made a pair of earrings and told my mom to give it to me.

Then Swami made my friend, a baby sit on His lap. After the bhajan, Swami went and made a

necklace for the uncle who was singing. Then I woke up surrounded by great energy! It felt so real

and it could be happening on any typical day at our center!

(Emma Mohanty - Group 1B)

The cool breeze of winter crept in between the small cracks in the floor. It was Sunday morning. I sat down at the coffee table in the seat closest to the dining table and plopped myself down next to the computer. I opened my email like normal. I remembered that I didn’t send my bhajan to the devotion coordinator, I was in a pickle. I quickly composed an email and put,

Sairam Aunty, This Thursday I would like to sing Mandara Giridhara Madana Manohara . Sairam, Navyug

I quickly dashed to the dining table to eat breakfast because I was so hungry. Since my mom wasn’t there, I went over to the fridge to get milk. I bent over to get the small pot to warm the milk. Then I poured the milk into the bowl. Then I had to go back to the cupboard to get the cereal. I was wasting my time eating my breakfast because as soon as I was done eating breakfast I had to study. Once I was done, I went to the coffee table and I was in a grouchy mood because I had to study. I glanced at my email one more time because I was impatient, waiting to see if the devotion coordinator had sent back an email. As soon as I looked at the email it turned my frown upside down. It said “Yes Navyug you can sing Sai Bhajana Sukha Shanthi Nahi” I was amazed to see that the devotion coordinator changed my bhajan. I would gladly sing whatever bhajan she chose for me, but I was curious and looked at the email that I sent to her and it said

Sairam Aunty, This Thursday I would like to sing Sai Bhajana Bina Sukha Shanthi Nahi Sairam, Navyug

I felt that this was Swami's way of showing me that I should just accept whatever comes my way. . (Navyug Boopathi - Group 2B)

STORIES of HIS

GLORIES


1. Name the year and place where our dear Swami was born. 2. Name the two friends who sat next to Swami during his school days. 3. What year did Swami declare he was Sathya Sai Baba? 4. What was the first Bhajan Swami taught his devotees?


1. Q: What are the different ways I can connect with God?

A: God is in us, around us, and will always be present. As far as

connecting with him, that can be as personal or as general as you may

want.

Namasmarana: Prayer, which is nothing but heart-to-heart conversation

with God; Constant remembrance of the name of God

Japa: Reciting any name of God

Sankeerthanam: Congregational singing and listening to Bhajans.

Dhyana: Meditation; Silencing the mind. As our Swami says “It is only in

the stillness of the mind, the voice of God will be heard.”

2. Q: How do I use my power of discrimination?

A: Discrimination must always adhere to Fundamental Discrimination.

While applying discrimination it is important to watch for decisions

driven by selfish motives. Listen to the inner voice for guidance.

3. Q: Why is it important to have regular spiritual education?

A: To make sure we know the answers to the above questions! Spiritual

education clears our doubts in our quest for Truth. In school it is good

to be cool; when you have spiritual education it is cool to be good!


Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu. May All The People In All The Worlds Be Happy

Lawrenceville Nursing Home

It was the middle of winter; the weather was getting unpredictable every week, with the polar vortex,

arctic freeze, snow storms and all. Even going to school, classes, and SSE was becoming very difficult and

hard because of snow and ice. Padmaja Aunty called us all as we had our regularly scheduled visit to

Lawrenceville Nursing Home. The one hour drive to Lawrenceville was hard for some people, but that

didn’t stop the enthusiastic entertainers and their parents. The trip was definitely worth it. The residents

thoroughly enjoyed every small act that we all did. Plus we realized it was the birthday of one of the

residents, which made our visit the icing on top of the birthday cake, not only for them, but for us as well!

We sang and played instruments for all the residents. A few of them also joined in and sang with us! The

experience was a gratifying one and seeing the smile on the residents’ faces is always worth it.

Sandwich Seva

Every Sunday the SSE students of East Brunswick Sai Center have the opportunity to do seva. Each week

a 100 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are made and packed in brown bags by one SSE group. Along

with the sandwiches, there is a piece of fruit, a water bottle, and a napkin. The students write nice

messages on the bag as well as what is inside the bag. While and after the sandwiches are made, the

students feel happy that they did a good deed to help the less fortunate. I have learned to appreciate

what I have, and that I should not waste anything, especially food.

choose a path, any path, said god…all roads end where ... newsletter first...page 7 of 10 sri...

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