Swami’s 100th Birthday

Om Sri Sai Ram,

With humble pranaams at Bhagawan’s lotus feet, we bring to you the second edition of the newsletter to our NDSai BalVikas families.

Upcoming events & opportunities

• Nov 19 — Ladies Day. Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam chanting at Ganesh & Latha’s residence.
• Nov 22 — Care Kits Seva (10th grade).
• Nov 23 — Swami’s 100th Birthday celebration. Atithi venue, 4:00–6:00 pm followed by dinner, 9060 Independence Pkwy, Plano, TX 75025.

Swami’s 100th Birthday celebrations

Swami says seva should happen naturally and spontaneously. It should occur naturally to us to serve others. He often quotes this line from our scriptures — “Paropakaarartham idam sariram” — this body is meant to help others. Our Bal Vikas families are engaged in multiple seva activities to celebrate Swami’s 100th birthday.

Sai Aashraya baby gift kits

Our families have sponsored 100 gift kits containing baby outfits and cloth diapers, as well as lovingly crocheted sweaters and hats, for the newborns arriving for treatment at Sai Aashraya’s facilities.

Care Kits Seva

Many of you are aware of the kits we assemble every year for people without fixed addresses on the streets of Dallas. Personal hygiene items are sponsored by our families, and the kits are assembled and distributed by our 10th graders during the holidays to celebrate Swami’s birthday. This year too, these kits will be distributed with all your support. Swami encourages devotees to perform seva activities in their own backyards and help the needy in their own communities. This annual seva gives us all the opportunity to practise this principle.

Folding paper cranes

Two-year-old Sadako Sasaki was at home in Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945, when the US dropped the Little Boy atomic bomb over her city. Sadako survived the bombing but passed away ten years later from leukaemia. Japanese folklore says that a crane can live for a thousand years, and that a person who folds an origami crane for each year of a crane’s life will have their wish granted. Sadako folded 1,300 origami cranes before her death in 1955, and has inspired generations of children to fold paper cranes to have their wishes fulfilled.

Swami has said that seva can be performed by our thoughts and words too, not just by our actions. When He introduced the prayer “Samastah Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu”, he said that when we pray for the whole world, it has immense effect on our minds and the atmosphere surrounding us.

So with a wish for global peace, our Bal Vikas children and families are folding 1000 paper cranes. Watch out for creative displays of these works of art from our children when you attend the 100th birthday celebration on Nov 23 — and mentally join them in the prayer for world peace.

Centennial Podcast Series

With love and gratitude at the Divine Lotus Feet of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, we are delighted to announce the launch of the NDSAI Kids Podcast Series — a heartfelt initiative by our BalVikas students as part of the Centennial Celebrations of our beloved Swami.

As we joyfully count down to Swami’s birthday on November 23rd, let us celebrate our young voices sharing reflections on Love All Serve All, Mindful Living, Courage, Gratitude and Ceiling on Desires.Listen to the series here.

If a wave of service sweeps over the land, catching everyone in its enthusiasm, it will be able to wipe off the mounds of hatred, malice and greed that infest the World. Attune your hearts so that it will vibrate in sympathy with the woes and joys of your fellow-men. Fill the World with Love. Love will warn you against advising another to do something which you yourself are unwilling to do; your conscience will tell you that you are living in a lie!

— Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Significance & origin of Akhanda Bhajans

During World War II, a small group of Sai Baba’s early devotees from Bangalore began holding weekly bhajans to stay connected with Him. In 1946 they organised the first 24-hour Akhanda Bhajan, which Swami personally attended, blessing the food so it miraculously never ran out. The event’s success led to it becoming an annual tradition that Swami supported for 28 years. In 1974 He proclaimed that the Akhanda Bhajan should spread globally, transforming a humble village gathering into a worldwide spiritual movement of love and devotion.More about bhajans at the center.

The divine power of group devotional singing

Swami has repeatedly emphasised the profound significance of group devotional singing. His words beautifully capture its essence:

You must sing the names aloud, full-throated, as far as the voice can reach. Only then the Divine will respond in full measure and shower His grace. No one will go to the rescue of a drowning man if his cries are feeble. Only when he cries aloud at the top of his voice will the cries be heard and people will rush to save him.

— Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 25 / Ch. 08, March 3, 1992

Our center holds bhajans from 11:20 am to 12 noon on Bal Vikas class days, and we warmly encourage all students and parents to participate.

Veda classes

Another parent of one of our alumni, Mahendraji, has been teaching Vedas to Bal Vikas children for over a decade. Children in 4th grade and above can participate. Classes are held so that they can attend during the time when their own classes are not in session. Swami has emphasised the importance of Veda Samrakshanam in many discourses, as well as by being an exemplar. Our Veda classes are inspired by Swami as an effort to sustain our ancient scriptures by training our children to chant them with discipline while spreading positive vibrations even as they learn and practise. More about Veda classes.

Additional seva opportunities

• Our Narayan seva at the Austin Street shelter in Dallas, every first Friday of a month.
• On the first Saturday of every month from 10 am, the Shirdi Baba temple in Plano organises a Cleaning Seva. The temple has been home for our unit presentations. Children are encouraged to participate as an expression of gratitude.
• Breakfast Seva, serving healthy and nutritious breakfast to the homeless in Dallas every day, led by one of our own teachers.
• Volunteers can also collect our white sheets once every other month and return them washed. Parking volunteers could also use your help.

Want to get involved? Talk to your child’s teacher.

Bringing presence back to parenting

Truly being present with our children may require skills we haven’t developed. An article in Psychology Today reminds us that genuine connection comes from undivided attention, not multitasking. Research shows that just a few minutes of mindful, positive engagement — using PRIDE skills like praise, reflection and imitation — can greatly strengthen the parent-child bond.