As we rapidly approach the dawn of a new millennium, we can’t help but reflect upon our successes and triumphs as a civilization.  We can’t help  but rejoice at our technological achievements and our economic growth.  But  we must also take a moment to reflect upon our growth as spiritual beings. 

As the children of Sai, we must understand that the invaluable ideals we have received from our Bhagavan must be internalized and practised in daily life situations as we step into the 21st century.  Without them we are lost. 

Our futures will bring us many obstacles and temptations, almost impossible to tackle without Baba’s teachings.  Despite the huge breakthroughs in computer technology, we must not overlook the importance of consciousness. 

Recently the Sai Youth had a debate about the effects of temptations and the means of confronting them.  With the aid of an esteemed psychiatrist who is also a devout devotee of Baba, the topic was analyzed in-depth.  It was concluded that temptation arrived in varied forms with the simple, yet drastic motive of destroying either the body or tainting the soul. 

Temptations such as drinking or smoking if yielded to, had the terrible effect of harming the body in numerous ways.  Although we would like to assume that our yielding to temptations may not bring direct harm to others, it is impossible for our family and friends not to be effected by our self degradation be it in the form of second-hand smoke, erratic mood swings from substance abuse or low self-esteem. It is therefore necessary to avoid them, in order to have a constructive and healthy life for ourselves and our families. 

The youth felt that the best way to elude these temptations, which were usually propagated by their own peers, was to simply avoid peer pressure and influences by staying away.  Difficult as this would be, one could be consoled by the fact that this harmful peer pressure by itself, would not have occurred in the first place if these ‘fun’ friends had been ‘real’ friends.  Baba so rightly tells us “tell me your company and I’ll tell  you  who you are”.  As youth we should always remember that God alone is our truest friend and while we must live in the world, we must not succumb to its temptations. 

In terms of the degradation of the soul, temptations such as drugs, polygamous relationships, and lack of self-discipline in thought, word and deed are major weaknesses of today’s youth.  The best way to cope with these is to understand their hurtful and sometimes even venomous affects on the people involved. The heartbreak of the parents as their child is thrown into jail, or the wailing of the mother as her son is taken in to the emergency ward are just the tip of the iceberg. 

 We the devotees of Sai have a greater ethical responsibility to shoulder because we have been made aware repeatedly of the difference between right and wrong, good and bad.  Bhagavan says that there is only one law, the law of karma because what goes around, comes around.  The fear that one’s sins will be returned two-fold in another lifetime is another strong, albeit  unconventional motivation to resist these temptations. 

But fear alone need not be our motivation for resisting temptations and peer pressure.  As the future leaders of the Sai movement, it is important for us to develop strong and upright characters.  To be associated with the name of  the Avatar is a blessing of many lifetimes.  We must live up to this grace and fulfil our destinies as the embodiments of divine love as Bhagavan calls us. Why waste this golden opportunity to rise above our human  weaknesses and realize our inherent divinity by stooping to animal and demonic levels in our behaviour, lifestyle choices and modes of self-expression? 

   As we look brightly into the future the millennium holds for us, we must recognize that despite the sweet-seeming path ahead, there will be many thorns on the way.  It is our dharma, as Sai youth to avoid these, while staying focussed on the Sai path.  It is our dharma to help others find and  pursue this same pathway safely, and it is also our dharma to ask our Lord Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai for help in our long and arduous trek towards 
salvation. 

 - Sai Youth 
 

Sai Ram. Today I have written about Navarathri. The word Navarathri is composed of two words, Nava and Rathri. Nava means nine. Rathri means night. 

Navarathri is observed for nine days and nine nights, in the month of October, the nine days following fasting for nine days. The nine days and nine nights are divided into three sets of three days and three nights and each set is devoted to worshipping three different aspects of Shakthi. Lord Shakthi is in the form of Icha Shakthi, Kiriya Shakthi and Gnana Shakthi and we worship these three forms of Shakthi's as Parvathi or Durga the first three days, Laxshmi the second three days and as Saraswathi the last three days. 

The mode of celebrating maybe different in various parts of India. In the southern part, they decorate the house and create Golu and do poojas for the ten days. The nineth day they offer prayers to the tools of their trade/students, to their books, craftsmen, and workmen, to their implements and machines. This is called "Ayuda pooja," which means 'weapon worship'. 

The tenth day which is called "Vijaya Thasami," holds a special magical quality. Often on this day young children are ceremonially taught the alphabet. It is also regarded as a lucky day for starting new businesses, learning new fine arts, or even buying a new house. 

In the state of Bengal, the festival of Durga pooja is celebrated with more gaiety and passion than anywhere else in India. The large majority of Hindhus in Bengal worship Mother Durga's 'fierce' aspect called Kali. According to Hindhu Mythology, Mother Durga had to temporarily take this 'terrifying' form in order to destroy a demon called 'Mahishasura.' 

Spiritually speaking, Kali represents God's power to destroy wicked forces in order to sustain this world. Durga Pooja also generates feverish artistic and literacy activities as the celebrations are marked with dance, drama, music, and poetry. 

In North India the emphasis of the celebration has shifted from the Mother Goddess to Rama. Also the celebration is called 'Dasara.' Lord Rama, after praying to Durga for help, cross the the bridge and killed the demon Ravana and rescued Sita. The famous story 'Ramaleela' usually dramatised during this season in the villages. 

Navarathri is one of the many ancient festivals that praises the Goddesses whom we do not pray to on a daily basis. This festival is among the most common festivals of all that Hindhus celebrate. This Navarathri celebrate it with your entire family.  Sai Ram. 

- SSE Group 3 Girls 

A water-bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house. The cracked pot arrived only half full. 

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his Master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and felt miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water-bearer one day by the stream. 

"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."  "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"  "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to make extra trips to the stream, and you don't get recognition for your efforts," the pot said. 

The water-bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."  Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure. 

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my Master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house." 

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His table. 

In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste.  So as we seek ways to minister together, and as God calls you to the tasks he has appointed you, don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them and allow Him to take advantage of them, and you, too, can be the cause of beauty in His pathway. Go out boldly, knowing that in our weakness we find His strength, and that "In Him, every one of God's promises is a YES."  Sai Ram. 

Courtesy - SSBC (NED) Penang, Malaysia 

Navaratri - nine nights devoted to the worship of the Goddess Shakti in the forms of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.. From our childhood to our teenage years this definition of Navaratri has been drilled into us. But few of us understand the reasons and history behind Devi worship. 

Devi worship, or the worship of the female aspect of Godhead, has been recorded through the history of the Indus' civilization. When the Aryans invaded the Indus valley between 2500 and 2000 B.C. they also introduced complex rituals and ceremonies associated with the worship of the Mother. 

A story associated with the Mother can be found in the Kena Upanishad. It tells of when the Divine Mother shed her wisdom and guided the gods in defeating the demon Mahishasura. In the form of Durga, with ten hands bearing ten weapons, she fought and killed this asura. After fighting the demon forces for nine days and nine nights, the Divine Mother triumphs on the tenth day, which is known as 'Vijaya Dasami' or the 'Day of Victory'. 

Upon examining the Divine Mother, one finds the existence of many triples. She is endowed with the three Gunas: Sattva, Rajas, and Thamas, and she manifests herself as Will (Icha Sakthi), Action (Kriya Shakti), and Knowledge (Jnana Shakti). During Navaratri we worship her as Parvati in conjunction with Lord Shiva, Lakshmi in conjunction with Lord Vishnu, and Saraswati in conjunction with Lord Brahma. Hence she is called Tripurasundari. 

It is also interesting to examine the order in which these Goddesses are worshipped in conjunction with their spouses. Why is it that we always say 'Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara', while we reverse their consorts and worship them in the order of 'Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati'? There is actually a relatively simple explanation for this. 

The order 'Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva' is at the creation level: creation, preservation, destruction. 'Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati', on the other hand, is the path we must take at our spiritual level. During the first three days of Navaratri, we attempt to cleanse ourselves by worshipping Durga, and asking her to destroy the demons within us. After this, we worship Lakshmi, praying for the prosperity and worldly knowledge we have earned. Then, during the last three days, we worship Saraswati in a search for spiritual wisdom. We (should) pray to Saraswati for our needs, not wants, and ask Her to grant you whatever She thinks you need. This is the time to surrender everything to God. The tenth day, Vijaya Dasami, is a day of victory within us. 

To most Hindus, the days of Navaratri are spent on a vegetarian diet, and praying for the blessings of the three main Goddesses. During the last three days, dedicated to Saraswati, students are especially vigilant in praying for the Goddess of Wisdom's grace and blessings. Vijaya Dasami, the day of victory, is considered to be the auspicious day to initiate children into learning letters. This initiation is called 'Vithiyarambam', meaning the 'beginning of formal education'. Learned elders, usually teachers, bless and help children write the first letter of the alphabet in a tray of raw rice. Another angle to Vijaya Dasami is that it is a festival of artisans. Farmers, carpenters, jewelers, tailors and others offer their instruments for blessing and recite solemn prayers to Sakthi, to invoke Her blessings for success. 

When one looks at the pictures of the various forms of Shakti, we usually see smiling forms seated upon lotuses. The form of Kali is the radical exception to this rule…and many people are unaware of the real reason for her fierce appearance. Kali doesn't look so frightening because she is out to get you or your neighbors - instead, she is conquering the demons within us, which are so difficult to fight. The skulls she wears around her neck are those of the demons she has destroyed. The vision of Kali is merely an analogy drawn to explain two concepts - Dharma, and to illustrate to us that when you are trying to destroy a negative quality but are instead drowning in your negativity, you should invoke your higher consciousness. 

Swami has said "When performing pujas or reciting mantras we must declare that we offer all our limbs in the service of the Lord. This means that whatever work you do should be done as an offering to God. Nowadays, selfishness is rampant among devotees and they love God not for God's sake but only to get their selfish desires fulfilled. As long as selfishness prevails, the Divine cannot be understood." Regarding Navaratri His message is that: "The Navaratri festival should be used as an occasion to examine one's own nature, whether it is human, animal or demonic, and strive to transform the animal nature to the human and the divine. Wisdom cannot be acquired from the outside. It has to be derived through inward Sadhana." This Navaratri, perhaps we should attempt not merely wooden worship, but attempt to understand its true meaning and incorporate its messages into our daily lives. Jai Sai Ram! 

- Sai Youth 

Scarborough Sai Centre is starting a community outreach project to offer a human values based Math Tutorial Program for Grade 6 students. This service is free and all students who require help are encouraged to register. For further information call (416) 410 6569. 

October 
 3 Laksharchana 
 9 Blood Donation Clinic 
 17 Vijayadasamy 
 30 Narayana Seva 

November 
7 Deepavali (Diwali) 
 13-14 Global Akhanda Bhajan 
 23 Baba's Birthday Celebration 
 28 Ladies day 

December 
12 Christmas Bhajan 
 31 New Year Bhajan