sai_pranam

With Swami’s Grace and Blessings, I had the opportunity to attend the International Seva Conference which was held in The Divine Presence of Bhagawan at Prashanthi Nilayam from 21st July to 23rd July 2002.

The conference revolved around the theme SAI.
Bhagavan teaches us that through Seva, we can achieve Bhakthi (Adoration). Through Bhakti, we can achieve Illumination ( Gnana/ Wisdom), which leads to liberation from the fetters of bondage to this world. Swami states that true seva is that which involves all the faculties of man in a spirit of love. It is not just mechanical action or intellectual exercise. The Seva Conference helped one understand the intrinsic connection of all these activities in the realization of our true heritage.

When I reached Parthi on the 20th July morning, the entire ashram wore a festive look. Devotees were pouring in from every nook and corner of the world. Kulwant Hall was decked up with flowers, garlands and festoons. The turnout to the conference was overwhelming. The number of delegates who attended the conference was a whopping 16,000.The entire ashram and sevadals were geared up to cater to the needs of the delegates. Temporary sheds were built to accommodate the thronging devotees. During Darshan the hall was filled to capacity.

To the joy of thousands of delegates our Most Beloved Bhagawan graciously agreed to inaugurate the Seva Conference on 21st July at 9.00am at Sai Kulwant Hall. In His inaugural speech Swami said to His Embodiments of Love,

“To attain liberation in today’s world learn the MANTRA of Service, and become a YANTRA (instruments) to perform the TANTRA (performance of service).

From then on for the next 3 days everything proceed with clock like precision.
I had the good fortune to listen to as many as 23 speakers from countries like ElSalvador, Trinidad&Tobago, West Indies, Europe, Canada, Malaysia and Colombo. They all spoke at length about the seva projects carried out in their respective countries. There were about 1544 overseas delegates from 71 countries. These figures speak for themselves on the wonderful geographical spread of Our Sai Organization. As Brother Hira aptly pointed out in his valedictory speech, Sathya Sai Organization is no longer an organization, but a movement… A MIGHTY MOVEMENT.
All of us enjoyed the Bliss of listening to Swami’s Discourses on all 3 days.

Throughout this conference, SAI was the unifying factor, the converging force that brought us all together. He transcended all cultural and geographical barriers. So many deliberations were made during the conference on the seva projects to bring about individual, social and national transformation.
But one message was constantly drilled into our mind and system,
“ Service should be need based not convenience based. People should be given what they needed most than what they desired most.”

Let me end this note with a small prayer to Swami

“Dear Swami,
Give us the heart that feels,
The mind that envisions,
The capacity that can endeavor,
Above all give us the WILL to serve”.

Jai Sai Ram

Vijayashree Krishnan