SOW

Sri Sathya Sai Western Organization or Sri Sathya Sai Organization of the West SWO OR SOW

It is Saturday morning about 2;30 AND I'M WIDE AWAKE. I wondered what Swami had woken me up to think about and decided this was the time to start our PROTESTANT MOVEMENT

I have been to the Tampa Bay Sai Center only about four times since I got back to the states 6 months ago. I suppose Swami is simply guiding me away from 'group worship' now. and towards the formless....one of the reasons He axed me out of the Ashram. But as this blog implies, it is hard to change life long habits. It's definitely time to focus on myself though...so what do I do? I think about the Sai Protestant movement or SOW or SPOM

SOME OF MY FRIENDS LIVING OR VISITING THE WEST ARE SORT OF INTERESTED IN DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS. Frankly it seems so threating that I can't even imagine actually doing anything about the idea but...somehow at 2;30 IT SEEMS POSSIBLE.

I can only write what I've been thinking tonight.

WEEKLY schedule

SUNDAY....we would more or less go to church or in our case, go to the Center. Should we change that to...go to the Mandir to give it a particular meaning. WE COULD CALL THE PLACE WHERE WE HOLD MEETINGS, OUR MANDIR....WHICH IT REALLY IS.

The service would consist of ....Sunday school or SSE for the younger members. I don't know what Bernice teaches but MY SWAMI'S ASTOTRA might be a good thing for the kids. I'M NOT ADVERTISING MY WORK AND IF WE DID START THIS ,OTHER PEOPLE WOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO EDIT AND CREATE. There are three books covering the 108 names and each name consists of a lesson plan; meaning a Bhajan (with English singable lyrics as well as the Sanskrit) one of Swami's stories (starting with Swami as a small child so that small members can identify), the human value in the story, a plan to use that value during the week and activities such as short skits, pantomimes, imaginary interviews etc. Actually all of this is in the books which are on sale in Trust Book Store AT LEAST ONE AND THREE ARE. TWO IS IN THE VILLAGE

Ok so while this is going on with the kids in one room, we would be having a 'Service' consisting of a report of last week's Center Seva, a short talk by someone (different each week) which could be from one of the discourses and how it might apply to those of us in the west, three or four English songs...assigned the previous week....not the song but the singer would be asked to do the song 'next week'....'Mary would you please sing next week and Jose, will you give a short talk?' This should be done so that the Bhajans might be better prepared as well as the talk. English Songs and/or Sanskrit Bhajans WITH ENGLISH singable lyricsshould be chosen by the singers. Oh and before the 'Service' some of us could chant 'The Rudram' in English. During Dasara the Sahastranama could also be chanted in English. I think that it should be pointed out that all of the Hindu Gods and Goddesses could continue to be worshipped and Lord Buddha and Mohammed also because our worship is based on the teacings of Sri SathyaSai who would, of course always be regarded as AVATARA AS WELL AS OUR BELOVED.

I would like to add something here about festivals. Festivals are great and add joy and creativity to our lives. There could be a standing committee on festivals creating a chance for children and adults to be included in center worship. They could always be working on some project or the other writing skits, learning music and doing artistic activities to present to the center. THERE COULD BE A VALENTINE'S DAY PROGRAM AND A THANKSGIVING PROGRAM AS WELL AS THE USUAL RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS. There could also be an ongoing choir AND MAYBE A PLAY GROUP..

After the Service we could have refreshments BECAUSE OUR CENTER MEMBERSHIP WOULD BE BASED ON FATHERHOOD OF GOD AND BROTHERHOOD OF MAN. And because we see each member AS THE SAME AS SWAMI We would extend our unconditional love to each not just SAY Sai Ram and run off. You know this non attachment is a wonderful attribute among INDIANS and much praised by Swami. We are different, maybe even our DNA is different and I think we need to value AND MAYBE EXPRESS OUR own feelings.

YOU'VE HEARD OF GOOD OLD CHRISTIAN BROTHERHOOD, WELL WE WILL BORROW THIS CONCEPT AND ACTUALLY FORGE A SAI FAMILY BECAUSE WE MAY NEED IT HERE IN THE WEST. WE NEED TO CARE AND LOVE AND SERVE ONE ANOTHER.

OK SO ON THURSDAYS WE WILL HAVE OUR ADDITION TO THE STUDY GROUP AND IT WOULD BE MORE LIKE A GROUP SHARING! I know this is where many will hardily disagree. I think our study groups could apply to our personal lives AND WE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO ESTABLISH PLATONIC INTIMACY WITH MEMBERS. Like the Episcopal church we would happily include people of all faiths, all races and all genders...including gays. AND PEOPLE LIVING TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIPS. LET ME ADD THAT THE DRESS CODE SHOULD BE MORE WESTERN AND NOT DICTATED BY ASHRAM LIMITS. We would encourage honesty and sincerity and unconditional love. We would try to love one another as SWAMI LOVES US not according to our place in society or our education. At our centers...or mandirs (instead of churches or temples), we would really love all and serve all. When someone is having a problem, financially, personally; with health or WITH RELATIONSHIPS...our study group AS GOOD FRIENDS WOULD be there to help. None of this....'gee that's too bad you're having this problem well, good luck with that, Swami will help. We ARE SWAMI. ' We would be free to discuss everything and extend the hand of real friendship. I know this is radical but I think this is the missing link and without this 'unconditional love' these centers will seem to be the empty places they SEEM today.

So then there's seva. Our Tampa Bay center does a lot of seva and most of it is based on 'medical camps' I'm not knocking it BECAUSE ITS A WONDERFUL CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY but many or us are not prepared for such seva. I think it is the actual ACT of serving which should be be encouraged. Kids as young as six should be given the opportunity of ...handing a bag lunch to a hungry person or a sweater when it's cold. And I think the adults should do the same...just hand out food in the park....walk the talk....feel the compassion. Maybe this would mean working in a soup kitchen or helping in a shelter but I think the seva should be simple, enjoyable and help us to grow in compassion. It should be an act of love

WHEN I WENT TO THE CENTER HERE THEY WERE READING SWAMI QUOTES AS A STUDY GROUP . iT WAS a bit DRY SO I ASKED....HOW THIS APPLIED TO MY BEING IRRITATED STANDING IN LINE AT THE SUPERMARKET. I WAS TOLD THAT BY ATTEMPING TO APPLY Swami's human values to standing in a super market line, I WAS DEBASING THE HUMAN VALUES WHICH SHOULD BE ONLY ON A SPIRITUAL LEVEL.

But our western group would not separate the spiritual from the worldly life because EVERYTHING IS SWAMI. Western Sai groups should be ...heart felt or they will never attract people. It should be heart felt and center on Swami's omnipresent form which is below, around above and inside us all the time. This doesn't mean that we won't head for India when He gives the call but it also means that we devotees can worship Him and Ourselves and other Sai Devotees right here where we took birth.